“We are, let’s see… what you would call a [Federation]. The staff of this artificial celestial body and I had planned to reveal our existence and propose joining the Federation once you had reached this distance from your home planet.”
 
“So, even if I had gone in a different direction, I would have been welcomed as one of your companions?”
 
“Yes. At this distance, it wouldn’t take much time to reach you.”
 
“Does that mean meeting you all wasn’t just luck or coincidence?”
 
“That’s correct. Even if Mr. Kaito had been heading in the opposite direction across the star, I … Read the rest

Episode 2: Hello, Extraterrestrial Intelligence
 

Near Jupiter’s orbit, the Goodbye Earth encountered a massive structure.
 
Drawn toward it, the ship continued its approach. Amidst this, Emotion, the ship’s AI, seemed to be handling the situation, as the warning alarms temporarily ceased. Kaito’s mind calmed down as a result.
 
At the same time, he realized he was being forced to make a decision.
 
“What should we do, Master Kaito?”
 
“Do what?”
 
“Well, should we continue toward that structure or try to escape?”
 
If they were to be taken into the structure, there was no … Read the rest

 
“To confirm, you do not wish to return to Earth? We haven’t even checked its condition yet.”
 
“I do not wish to return to Earth. Whether it’s still habitable or not, I choose to embark on this journey.”
 
“Understood. I will respect Master Crouch’s decision, and this vessel will aim to reach Jupiter’s orbit.”
 
Even if they reached Jupiter’s orbit, it wouldn’t mean survival.
 
No one would know he had ventured into the unknown. Those who remembered he’d been exiled to space might not even be alive on Earth.
 
It was a highly improbable … Read the rest

 
Even before his arrest, Kaito had made it a hobby to dig up and read text data from the depths of the network, dating back to the Common Era.
 
The Supreme Leader favored classical works published during the Common Era, but Kaito, being younger, had a taste for deeper, more obscure material.
 
Even among works never published as books, several masterpieces from the Common Era were buried in underground network archives.
 
“Well, I won’t be bored, that’s for sure.”
 
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
 
The warden’s voice, though mechanical, carried a hint of exasperation.… Read the rest

Chapter 1: I’m Not a Pithecanthropus
 

 
“Verdict. Defendant Kaito Crouch is sentenced to exile. The duration of confinement is seven thousand days.”
 
The murmurs from behind, the judge’s commanding voice demanding silence. A man shouting about injustice, the sound of something being struck.
 
Kaito listened to it all with indifference, numbly accepting the sentence.
 

 
It had been a long time since the public’s demands from politics had narrowed down to essentially how it could pamper them. In short, modern times could perhaps be described as an era where people have lost interest in anyone … Read the rest

Prologue
 
 

 
“The infinite expanse of the vast universe…” While remembering this phrase from classical works of the Common Era, Kaito Crouch looked up at the alien civilization’s creation before him.
 
A spaceship. And a personal one at that.
 
He wondered how much wealth would be needed to arrange something like this on Earth. But here, it wasn’t that expensive. Being told that it was a relatively commonly attainable asset, he could only be amazed at the magnificence of the alien civilization that had picked him up.
 
This ship didn’t have a name yet. It had just … Read the rest