[Third-Rank citizen Enek-Ragif Kaito. The reason we wanted to meet with you isn’t due to any issue with you personally.]
“Not me personally? Then… is it about Earth? Is there a problem with us Earthlings?”
[Not directly with Earthlings as a whole. However, the data obtained during your physical modifications has proven that the Federation’s observation of you was justified. For you, it’s just that.]
But, the assembly member sways again.
The assembly members on the screens also seem displeased, making it clear this is a sensitive topic.
[What we’re about to discuss involves the history, sins, and shame of the Federation.]
“Sins and shame?”
“Indeed. And it is the Federation’s duty to explain this to you.”
The [Councilor] began to speak slowly.
The origins of the Federation predate the birth of Earth as a planet.
It began as a gathering of those who abandoned their own planet to escape the inevitable destruction of their star. At first, it was a makeshift arrangement.
They created artificial celestial bodies in locations unaffected by stellar influences, and each of these was tailored to be habitable.
Over what would be billions of years on Earth, they developed their civilization. Yet, it was only a few tens of millions of years ago by Earth’s standards that they fully freed themselves from the constraints of resources and environment.
From then until very recently—though “recent” still means a hundred or two hundred thousand years ago, highlighting the vast difference in their sense of time compared to Earth—the Federation citizens apparently engaged in quite reckless behavior, as the [Councilor, a space jellyfish] explained.
“It was likely a reaction to the restraint they had exercised up to that point. There were many actions that went against ethics. The reason we summoned you today is to explain our sins and shame regarding interference with civilizations and colonization of planets.”
Kaito rememberd, there are several myths on Earth about “gods who came from the edge of the sky.” If he ask Emotion, she might dig up a few examples, but confirming what the Federation considers sins and shame here isn’t feasible.
“Interference with civilizations refers to the act of descending from the edge of the sky and bestowing intelligence and civilization upon primitive life forms. Many of us wanted to be worshipped like gods. But those who grew tired of being worshipped mostly left, concocting various excuses. It was all very arbitrary.”
Just as Kaito thought. Or perhaps, Earth’s humanity also exists today because of such interference. The idea that gods were actually aliens is rather straightforward, though.
“As for colonization, it refers to settling on a planet without the consent of the native life forms, or pretending to have obtained such consent. The primitive life we led and the actual primitive life of the native beings were entirely different.”
“Is that really so bad?”
Neither seems particularly terrible.
In response to Kaito’s question, the [Councilor] swayed its tentacles.
“Of course, if that were all, it wouldn’t be much of an issue. In fact, there have been debates about whether we should grant Federation citizenship to the inhabitants of colonized planets.”
“Then…”
“The problem is that almost all native life forms on those planets went extinct before they could qualify for Federation membership.”
“Extinct!?”
“Indeed. That’s why the Federation Council at the time essentially banned interference with and colonization of undeveloped planets. But there are always those who find clever ways to do wrong.”
At this point, Kaito began to understand the circumstances they were dealing with.
The reason Earth was being monitored, the fact that they were welcomed as potential citizens, and the reason they didn’t intervene even as Earth’s civilization teetered on the brink of collapse.
“So, we are the descendants of illegal colonists, then?”
“That’s where interpretation becomes difficult, Kaito Third-Rank Citizen Enek-Ragif. After colonization was outlawed, Earth was discovered. And then, someone did something that should never have been done.”
Not colonization. And the way it was phrased was rather vague.
What could be worse than illegal colonization that ultimately led to extinction?
The fact that there’s debate over whether to consider us descendants of illegal colonists suggests it’s not just a simple matter of colonization or interference.
“Time regression and life replacement.”
The Councilor’s calm words answered Kaito’s question while sending a chill down his spine.
Even with the Federation’s advanced technology, time regression remains an extremely difficult feat. Through numerous experiments, it has been proven that any living being with a mass exceeding a certain threshold cannot achieve time regression, even for an instant. Conversely, this means that beings with a smaller mass than this threshold could, in fact, succeed.
The exchange of life—replacing one life form with another—was carried out on fifteen planets, as far as the Federation government knows.
The reason the number was so low was simply because every single individual who attempted such a thing died without exception. Even the biological data that was supposed to be backed up was completely corrupted, making it impossible to restore them.
There was no concrete evidence, but at the time, rumors even spread that it was a curse from the lives that had been exchanged. Since there was no way to confirm the truth or any need to replicate the process, no further investigation was conducted to determine whether it was truly a curse. The act was simply deemed forbidden, and that was the end of it.
Life replacement. The act of sending primitive life forms containing the genetic information of their own kind back to a time before life emerged on that planet. It was possible with time regression and the technology to manipulate life.
The replacement of life through time regression is also an alteration of history itself. As an extremely difficult crime to detect, it is now strictly sealed and monitored alongside time regression technology.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
“The alteration of history is, in our view, an unimaginable massacre that annihilates billions of years of life. The despicable part is that they targeted undiscovered planets with no Federation involvement. Since it didn’t directly affect Federation citizens, it was discovered too late.”
Kaito recalled the state of the planet he had lived on until his exile.
The animals, the plants, even himself. Were we never supposed to be born, sprout, and grow on this planet? While countless beings who should have been here were lost forever, we consumed the planet. He felt a chilling illusion, as if someone unseen was watching his back.
“Earth is one of the fifteen planets where life replacement occurred. Twelve of them have already perished, and Earth will soon follow. The Federation cannot atone for its sins through the extinction of these planets, and can only leave a record of their mistakes. But you arrived in time.”
“Arrived in time…?”
“A chance for atonement. By becoming a Federation citizen, Earth has become a member of the Federation, and we now have the justification to intervene. Zodgia will be relieved of its monitoring duties and assigned to Earth’s environmental restoration and preservation.”
Environmental restoration and preservation. Is that a good thing? Not just humans, but even animals and plants might be alien to Earth’s original state.
As Kaito pondered this, a voice different from the Terraporapanesio’s interjected. It was a feminine voice, though its source on the screen was unclear.
“Earthlings, along with all other Earth life forms, have evolved differently from the species that seeded life on Earth. Kaito Third-Rank Citizen Enek-Ragif, you are not the perpetrators. We have concluded that Earth’s life forms are also victims, born into a state where normal evolution was prohibited.”
“Even if you say that…”
“This is our sin, not yours. Even if you had evolved similarly to them, it would be wrong to impose their sins upon you. This explanation is merely to clarify why you were observed and why we couldn’t intervene as your home world faced extinction.”
What a heavy burden. Even if told to move on, it’s not something easily dismissed. Though Kaito was the only one who could make contact with them, Earthlings still led their planet to ruin.
The only difference between Earth and the twelve other planets that have already perished is whether or not there was someone as reckless as Kaito.
But dwelling on self-blame won’t help. Kaito decided to consider himself fortunate that his ancestors weren’t held accountable and shifted his mindset just as the [Councilor] spoke up.
“Now, Kaito Third-Rank Citizen Enek-Ragif. The main topic begins here.”
This wasn’t the main topic until now?
Feeling slightly tense, Kaito nodded.
“Would you consider selling Earth to us, the Terraporapanesio?”
Also check out my friend Localizermeerkat for more LN translations!
BUY THE SOURCE MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR !!!
Kindly click on the green button above and contribute to filling the green bar if you’re interested in having another LN from the request page translated. Also, every donation is being used to purchase the source material and to fund more English translations.
Please consider joining my Ko-Fi membership. By becoming a member, you’ll also gain access to 2-10 additional chapters of all of the novels from this site translated into English. Last but not least your support will also assist me in upholding the translation quality and speed. For more information, please follow the link.
Donation for faster release is always welcome
Additionally, I am now accepting translation requests.
