Red Sea

“[That’s what seems strange. Normally, if one is afraid, they wouldn’t engage in actions that provoke the entity.] 

“You probably don’t know the saying, ‘A cornered rat will bite a cat’… When one is frightened to the point of losing mental judgment, they tend to act recklessly.” 

[Isn’t that foolish?] 

“…I won’t deny it. I know, humans are foolish beings.” 

Jake replied gloomily to Kashan’s retort. It wasn’t just that he felt criticized for his own actions. He had lost hope for humanity as a whole and felt a profound loneliness, not really belonging anywhere, which led him to say such things. 

[But I find that interesting. Thermo are merely useless competitors. Since we cannot be more than comrades, I can say I prefer humans more.] 

“Not that you meant it as consolation, but still, thank you.” 

Whenever Jake conversed with him, he was overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling. The way they communicated was not human-to-human, and at times, he felt as if he were speaking to a talking stone. Because Kashan did not consider the context, such as checking the other’s feelings during the conversation, he sometimes felt like an imprecise AI rather than a person. It was closer to a strong sense of alienation than discomfort. After all, half of their communication was not conversation at all. Kashan had been emitting beast-like growls from start to finish. 

Still, every time he confirmed that Kashan was making an effort to treat him amicably rather than antagonistically, a faint sense of relief rippled through his heart. When left alone as an outsider, not belonging anywhere, the fact that there was a being with whom he could communicate felt immensely reassuring. 

Despite the alienation, finding a positive aspect in a massive extraterrestrial being was a hormonal reaction intertwined with the desperate situation. Whether it was a misfortune or a blessing, Jake was unaware of that fact. Even in this moment of conversation, changes were occurring within his body. The new organ that had taken residence in him was constantly trying to manipulate Jake’s concepts and thought processes to feel positively about the being that periodically provided sexual stimulation. 

“Is it time to go now?” 

[Yes. I will return when the sun sets. I will try to bring the sword as requested.] 

“…I understand. Have a safe trip.” 

The giant concluded the conversation and trudged out of the cave. For a moment, Jake contemplated whether he should follow him to see him off, but it seemed a bit excessive, so he decided to remain seated. It felt rather amusing to treat someone who was not human as if he were. Even when he looked at his face, there was no smile or anger, nor did he nod in acknowledgment. Thus, there was no reason to attempt human ways with him. 

Perhaps, he felt a sudden aversion to the idea of going that far, as it seemed akin to how humans treat their spouses after forming a family. Although he had resolved to help him breed and survive by mixing their bodies, becoming his partner was an entirely different matter. Jake still thought of him as a strange companion, not someone he felt close to in that way. 

He considered them to be comrades who had to help each other to safely reach their destination while marching together in a distant place, almost like a symbiotic relationship. Watching the giant’s shadow disappear at the cave entrance, Jake could not hide his troubled heart and stood up as if he would chase after him, only to sit back down again. He had to get used to spending time alone; a new life had begun long ago. 

*

“I never thought learning how to survive in the jungle would be this helpful.” 

After trying for over four hours using various tools in the cave, Jake finally succeeded in starting a fire, drenched in sweat. The sun was already moving near the horizon. At noon, standing under the natural light of Centric, he would sweat profusely, and his skin would turn red, making it impossible to stand for long. However, as the sun began to set, the ground cooled rapidly, and the temperature remained bearable until dusk, allowing the aging veteran to move relatively smoothly in and out of the cave, completing a makeshift stove that looked decent. 

As he roasted unknown plant clumps over the fire, a sweet smell wafted through the air. While standing guard over the cooking food, a sense of accomplishment welled up in him, making his heart swell. Compared to marching through the jungle or piloting a spaceship, it was truly nothing. It was merely a crude act that could hardly be called cooking. Still, it was significant that he had successfully achieved something for the first time since falling to this planet. Jake sat in front of it, smiling, waiting for the food to cook adequately. 

Even though the ground cooled as the sun set, it was the first time he had stood under the sun for such a long time. Suddenly, he wondered if this was possible because his body was changing, and his previously pleasant mood began to waver. Watching the irregularly crackling fire, he decided to conduct a simple test. Gazing at the flickering flames, Jake reached out his hand. 

“Ouch, that’s hot.” 

The man, who had clumsily placed the food in the fire, pulled it out with his bare hands and shook off the ashes while grimacing. His palms and backs of his hands were still soft human skin, making it impossible to hold a fireball with bare hands. Jake sucked on his burned fingers, soothing the stinging sensation. It was painful, but his heart regained its peace. As soon as he confirmed that he still felt the heat when standing near the fire, his pounding heart began to calm down. 

The reason he could not stop his primitive and reckless attempts was simple: he was anxious. In a state where no one could clearly diagnose what condition he was in, Jake wanted to confirm visually that he was still at the human stage. 

He had not undergone mutations that would allow him to transcend human limits, but it was certain that his body was changing. Despite moving around with stones and embers, trying to start a fire, and standing under the sun for a long time, his intact body was the basis for his reasoning. No matter how he thought about it, the sun was setting, and in the past, he would never have imagined wandering around like this. 

Every time things that fell outside the human category became possible one by one, it was utterly confusing. He had lost count of how many times he had reminded himself that he had to settle down and live here since he could not go back. Even so, fully accepting that mentally was another matter. Sometimes, the shock was so intense that it made his head throb, causing nausea. 

Gradually becoming something other than human was a feeling he had neither heard of nor experienced, causing a deep-seated aversion to stir within him. He had often imagined the terrifying thought that one day, when he looked at his face in a well, he might lose his features like Kashan and no longer be able to speak human words. It was a foolish thought, but he was still afraid that his fingertips might turn black and harden like stone. 

“…It can’t be.” 

Didn’t he say that he would lay eggs? At least, it wouldn’t be a method of preserving his species by coloring this alien race as beings like himself, so he shook his head to dismiss such thoughts. Not knowing what would happen was unsettling in many ways. 

As he became lost in complicated thoughts, the purple sunset had already draped over the sky. The cool air would soon settle into coldness, so it was time to keep the embers alive and go inside. Jake concluded that it would be better to ask Kashan exactly what would happen if his body changed when he returned, and he brought the roasted plant clumps into the cave. 

While chewing on the ones that had become a bit softer, he could not relax his face and wore a serious expression. Once his thoughts began to drift in that direction, they became uncontrollable. The small joy from his achievement was far too weak to extinguish the anxiety burning deep within his heart. 

As the sun set, all shadows began to stretch long. Watching the sky transform into a deeper, darker shade of purple, he thought it was a strangely unfamiliar sight. He didn’t know the exact principle, but on this planet, the sky was completely white at noon, gradually changing from a yellowish hue to purple. If he were to entertain a peculiar thought, the sky color on this planet must be white. Although it belonged to the same terrestrial-type planet, it was a sight he had never seen on the almost Earth-like planet Arkbat, which was said to have a similar environment. 

The land beneath the white sky was completely baked dry and parched, with a dusty earth floor. Although it seemed like a rough, tawny expanse, it was a space that operated with its own beauty and logic. He had confirmed that it sometimes rained, and the night sky he had looked up at from the confined space was filled with far more stars than he had seen from a spaceship. 

Visually stimulating scenes had a way of weakening the heart. Such alien landscapes contributed to making Jake even more troubled. Every time he opened his eyes in the morning, the unfamiliar scenery reminded him of the fact that he was alone in a remote place, leaving his heart hollow. 

Before the sun completely set, a sound broke the silence. With the heavy footsteps thudding on the ground, a massive shadow resembling a human figure loomed at the cave entrance. It was Kashan. 

“You’ve come.” 

Jake turned his head awkwardly in the direction of the voice, forcing a smile. He still had no idea how to treat him. It felt awkward to welcome him wholeheartedly, but he didn’t hate him enough to treat him coldly. He was the greatest threat and yet an absolute supporter. 

[I brought the item you requested.] 

An arm suddenly shot out from one of the holes behind Kashan. The red hand that reached out to Jake was a knife that looked like it had seen better days. Jake frowned slightly at its shabby appearance, which looked as if it had been picked up from a trash can. It was better than nothing, but at the very least, it seemed he would have to clean it up before using it. 

“Thank you.” 

Still, since everything around was solid stone, he hoped to find something suitable to use as a whetstone to make it a useful item. On the other hand, he began to imagine what kind of experiences the owner of this knife had gone through and what kind of race they belonged to. Using a knife implied a fairly advanced civilization, and there must have been a reason for choosing this brutal contract. 

“By the way,” 

Jake began as he placed the knife under his bed. If it was an unavoidable truth, it was better to know it quickly and prepare himself mentally. He swallowed hard and looked at Kashan as he opened his mouth. 

“How are the eggs… laid?” 

[That’s a strange question. The eggs that grow in the egg chamber will be expelled from the body when the time comes. Then the task is complete.] 

“So, can you be a bit more specific? Humans don’t normally lay eggs. We are viviparous, and even men like me don’t have children. I understand that you created that egg chamber in my body so that we can communicate like this. But… does that mean I already have your eggs?” 

[That is not the case. I have not yet made you carry the eggs; I am still waiting.] 

“Is there a special process required?” 

Jake asked, raising his eyebrows. The fact that the eggs had not yet entered him brought about a contradictory mix of relief and anxiety. 

[Of course. Right now, the egg chamber is sufficiently established in your body, and I am waiting for it to mature. When the time comes, you will be able to carry the eggs.] 

“Then… will I change like you? Specifically, will I have multiple arms, or will my skin turn black? I’m curious if I will become a Thermo.”