Chapter 2 - We Eliminate the Bandits, but I Had Ulterior Motives
~ Normal Space (Farther Outside the Outer Edge of the Betasia Star System, Gialpha Galaxy) ~
Sangou had emerged from the hyperspace used for jump navigation and arrived in normal space.
Thanks to the assistance of the Hero Jin, she had been able to repair the heavily damaged hull, recovering her functions as a spaceship and successfully escaping from hyperspace, from which she could never have escaped through mere movement.
And the place she burst out into was an unknown stretch of space.
There, there was nothing visible except the glimmer of stars.
A region close to the galaxy, yet still outside it.
In that place, what might be called 'outer space', luckily or not, there were no asteroids or debris nearby that might collide with Sangou.
That it didn't immediately turn into an emergency was, if anything, a good thing.
"We have returned to normal space. We will now begin determining our current position."
Listening to the announcement on Sangou's bridge, Jin activated Map Magic.
Intending to use all of his currently available magical power, his full-powered Map Magic, poured with magic as if saying 'Maximum range!' brought Jin information that was at least somewhat useful.
Jin succeeded in recognizing from the Map Magic the information: 'Near the Betasia Star System, at the edge of the Gialpha Galaxy.'
However, he only knew the names of the galaxy and star system, and the location that bore those names.
Therefore, the reality remained: 'So, where exactly is here?'
"No corresponding information. The data Sangou possesses does not match any stellar configuration patterns. Therefore, it is presumed that the current location is an 'unknown universe' to Sangou."
That it remained a presumption and not a conclusion was due to the age of the data Sangou held.
The positions of stars could change over tens of thousands of years.
However, Sangou's presumption at this time was as close to a conclusion as possible.
"According to my Map Magic, it says 'Near the Betasia Star System, at the edge of the Gialpha Galaxy.' Sangou. Can you temporarily register the nearest star system and galaxy name under those names? Also, will it be possible to create data for this galaxy by adding new information as we obtain it from now on?"
"That is possible. I will register the names and the currently observable stellar configuration as data. However, Captain. That aside, if we do not secure energy for navigation, our future activities will be limited."
Sangou calculated the remaining energy onboard and the range they could travel with it, roughly conveying the information to Jin.
Of course, it goes without saying that the calculation also included utilizing the faint energy arriving from stars far away from their current region.
Also, that aside.
Now that they had safely emerged into normal space, Sangou had a mountain of things she absolutely had to convey to the Captain.
The time to proceed with that discussion in parallel was exactly now.
"I believe that 'for the Captain to fulfill his duties as Captain from now on, I should first explain the ship's facilities and equipment, and I would like you to understand them.' I consider that 'the method I used when I first addressed the Captain—pouring the information directly into the Captain's brain as data—would be the most efficient for both of us,' but as now, 'explanation by voice' is also possible. Which would you prefer?"
As for Jin, there wasn't any particularly urgent problem that needed immediate resolution.
However, having heard Sangou's statement, there was no reason to waste unnecessary effort in obtaining the necessary knowledge.
Therefore, he chose the method Sangou recommended, one Jin didn't quite understand, of having the information poured in as data.
Since it was a method used before with no issues, there was no reason to refuse it in the first place.
And so, Jin deepened his understanding of Sangou's internal facilities and functions, and it might be a trivial matter that he learned the previously incomprehensible knowledge transmission method was something psychic, something called a 'Sensory Wave.'
After that stage, he finally began to consider, 'Would it be possible to move inside the ship even if I dispel the Shield Magic I've been keeping up?'
Incidentally, regarding moving inside the ship without the benefit of Shield Magic, was it some kind of fate at work?
The composition of air in which Jin could survive could be produced and adjusted by the organic parts inside Sangou's ship.
No, it was nearly the same as what the people of the Deltania Star System, where Sangou was originally built, required.
Also, gravity was similar in that regard, so Sangou felt it was unnatural but dismissed it on the grounds that there was no problem.
In any case, the shipboard environment was adjusted to the Captain's biology, and with a mixture of trepidation, Jin dispelled the Shield Magic and finally set foot on the deck of Sangou's interior.
From here on, a small digression.
After defeating the Demon Lord, Jin had spent several hours exploring the Floating Island, including a rest period.
Even including all sorts of things that happened after that, the time from the Demon Lord's defeat until Sangou finished adjusting the shipboard environment to suit Jin was only about a day.
"Isn't that way too many events packed into just one day?"
For Jin, the situation had been moving so rapidly that he felt like saying that.
If Jin were an ordinary person, during that flow of time exceeding twenty-four hours, he would naturally require a decent amount of consolidated sleep.
But reality was not that.
When it came to the highly solo-oriented Hero Jin specifically, things changed.
Jin had always fought alone in his activities as a Hero.
To defeat the Demon Lord, conquering dungeons was essential.
The reason was that to set foot on the Demon Lord's stronghold, the Floating Island, one had to completely conquer the dungeon.
However, was that possible alone, without forming a party?
The reality was that even looking at the activities of past Heroes other than Jin, you could assert that 'under normal methods, solo conquest is impossible.'
Inside dungeons, there are no places where one can rest for long periods without watching.
And complete conquest of a dungeon requires a considerable amount of time, necessitating an overnight stay inside the dungeon for at least several days.
Under such circumstances, Jin had acquired a drastic ability to make the impossible possible: 'splitting brain activity to function.'
Jin could do something extremely dexterous, like 'arbitrarily putting half or a quarter of his brain to sleep.'
It goes without saying that sleeping is best, but the reality was also that he could 'function without issues even without sleep.'
This was the reason for the earlier line, 'When it comes to Jin specifically, things change.'
For Jin, being unable to secure sleep time inside a dungeon was only a trivial matter.
However, it wasn't that he didn't need sleep at all, so he let his guard down and fell asleep in a place he thought was an absolute safe zone, and he got caught by a teleportation trap.
Well, in this regard, it was probably that the one who chose the time and place to reliably exploit Jin's opening was just more skilled.
Now, enough digression. Let's return to the main story.
After discussing with Sangou, Jin decided to set course for the Betasia Star System, with information gathering as the primary objective and also to secure navigation energy.
Their destination was an unknown place to both of them.
Therefore, Jin asked Sangou to be on maximum alert, and he himself decided to deploy Search Magic at maximum range and keep it active at all times.
During his era as a Hero in the Louvre Empire, doing this would have put him in a very tough spot due to magical power issues.
However, for Jin now, there were absolutely no issues with his magic power.
When I received that explanation-like thing, I was so angry I tuned it out and don't remember the details clearly. But could it be that the 'level cap removal' performed just before I was thrown into this world is the reason I have leeway in magic power?
Jin came to that conclusion based on the feel of the Map Magic he used when arriving in normal space.
Jin's level had reached its cap long before the Demon Lord's defeat.
However, even though his level was at the cap, something like experience points had continued to accumulate.
Therefore, it wouldn't be at all strange if, by removing the level cap, he had leveled up from the accumulated EXP and his magic power increased.
Of course, the truth lay with a different factor, but Jin didn't notice that at the time.
Also, Jin's thought wasn't entirely wrong.
Because his level had indeed increased, and that certainly did increase his maximum magic power.
In any case, it was about an hour after Jin started using his magic that his Search Magic detected objects that seemed to have 'artificial movement.'
Fortunately, on the way to the Betasia Star System, Sangou had been able to capture an asteroid convertible into navigation energy.
Jin's magical detection of the anomaly occurred while Sangou was on inertial navigation, 'feeding' on the asteroid.
"Hey, Sangou-san. How's the energy replenishment situation?"
"Yes. Excluding the minimum emergency reserve, we are at slightly over fifteen percent."
"Hmm. Going from the knowledge I acquired, it feels like 'enough to barely manage one battle, about thirty minutes of bombardment and combat maneuvers,' right?"
"That's right. Is there something that presumes combat?"
Sangou, for her part, wanted to avoid wasting the energy they had just replenished.
Hence the question.
Of course, if a situation had arisen that warranted the energy expenditure, that was a different story.
"Yeah, it's a phenomenon I detected with Search Magic. Near the fifteenth planet of the star system we're heading to, there are multiple objects making somewhat concerning artificial movements."
"I see. I had detected it as well. The movements suggest a relationship of 'pursuers' and 'pursued.' Are you considering intervention?"
"As payment for information. I think the classic is 'save someone from a crisis and become their benefactor.' What do you think about that, Sangou? Though, this case is 'if it's possible for Sangou to save the day' (well, if it's just saving them from this level of crisis, I might be able to manage with my magic somehow.)"
Even as he said that to Sangou, Jin also held thoughts like the final part he didn't voice.
Though the difficulty should be completely different from saving a carriage under bandit attack in a fantasy world, Jin had an inexplicable, groundless confidence, perhaps because he was the Hero.
"For the purpose of obtaining information, that might be an option. However, in making a judgment on 'good versus evil' or 'justice,' in short, 'which side should we help?' we currently lack the materials. What will you do?"
At Sangou's question, Jin first thought, 'I wonder if it's impossible to intercept something like communications?'
Then, he arrived through self-inquiry at a strangely convincing answer: 'Ah! Even if I could intercept them, it's more unreasonable to assume they're using a language I can understand in the first place.'
However, perhaps it's the very reason for a Hero's existence, or their fated power, that he didn't stop there.
In his encounter with Sangou, who should have been created by a different civilization, Jin had the splendid precedent that 'there was no language problem.'
At this moment, Jin decided to 'try using the foreign language comprehension skill that he vaguely remembered and felt might have been granted to him.'
Since I could understand Sangou's language too, if I could just hear that communication, I might have a chance since I seem to have that foreign language comprehension skill, right? Nothing to lose anyway.
Simply put, one could say he 'switched his mindset' like that.
"Sangou. Are they sending out anything like communication waves or a distress signal? If possible, I'd like to listen to that as audio."
"There is something being transmitted that can be considered 'communication waves.' However, because it is in an unknown language, I cannot understand the content. Nonetheless, audio output in the form you likely desire is possible."
"Then I'll leave it to you. Because if I listen, it might work out somehow."
And so, Sangou intercepted the communication content, converted it into a decent-sounding audio right there on the bridge, and played it.
As a result, Jin was able to understand that 'the side that appeared to be pursued was in a situation of being chased by bandits and asking for help.'
Man, how cliché is this?
Jin started by thinking that.
In this scene, it's probably a cliché like a princess or a noble's daughter being attacked.
Whispering that internally and getting his hopes up was Jin's little secret.
Next, Jin shared the situation by explaining the translated content to Sangou.
Sangou, for her part, obtained Jin's translation results and promptly began comparing them with the intercepted audio data.
In short, the excellent organic spaceship AI immediately began language analysis.
The abilities of Sangou, an organic AI created by a super-scientific civilization, were no bluff.
Completing the language analysis in just a few minutes, Sangou established a state where real-time translation was possible.
'Organic AI' sure is amazing, huh.
It might be a trivial matter that Jin, upon receiving that report, swallowed a thought that Sangou would consider unimportant without voicing it.
"Alright, then the 'goal' or rather 'objective' is 'the operation to rescue the pursued side and obtain information as reward.' However, limited to what we can manage. Let's go with 'no overextending ourselves.'"
Above all, his own life was precious.
For Jin now, the lives of complete strangers were actually quite light.
Additionally, the only information to go on at present was the intercepted audio data and the movements of the targets detected by sensors.
Communication might be possible. But I don't know what shape of creature the other party is. I can't rule out the possibility that they look like something I'd consider a 'monster.'
To put it bluntly, this was it.
Jin, even while aiming to rescue, also held such ruthless thoughts simultaneously.
Nevertheless, as if saying 'winging it,' Jin and Sangou headed toward the rescue target.
"We'll do what we can."
For Jin, it was about that level of sentiment.
Jin's five-year life as a Hero spent in a world where he couldn't trust anyone.
In the end, he received no reward and was thrown into the space where Sangou was by a random teleportation trap item.
It might be understandable that Jin, with such experiences, tended to lean toward slightly jaded thinking.
In any case, Jin and Sangou pressed on through space, aiming for a cliché development.
Sangou approached the scene where a chase between spaceships was unfolding.
The scene was the space region around the fifteenth planet, which was the second from the outermost among the planetary orbits of the Betasia Star System in the Gialpha Galaxy.
Jin thought while closely watching the real-time optical images displayed on Sangou's bridge monitor.
Spaceships like something out of an anime somewhere?
No, are these space warships?
Giving Jin that impression, one ship was being chased by five spaceships and what appeared to be multiple small humanoid weapons.
Jin could confirm that scene from Sangou's main monitor feed.
"Sixty seconds until we are within intervention range."
"Can we contact them from here? It would be annoying if we get mistaken for being on the bandits' side and get attacked by the rescue target."
"Yes. Since the language analysis is complete, communication is possible as Sangou, and I can transmit the Captain's video and audio in a communication format we presume the other side is using. However, I cannot determine regarding 'reproduction of video data' or 'whether the other side even possesses equipment capable of reproduction.'"
From the fact that she could present such analysis and surmises up to this point, Jin could easily imagine that this organic AI called 'Sangou' was quite excellent.
Judging from how Sangou reported, she probably thought 'voice communication by Jin was desirable,' but was 'leaving the final decision to Jin.'
If that was the case.
The Hero Jin only needed to make a decision.
"Understood! Then send my voice over to them."
"This is the spaceship Sangou. We intercepted what appeared to be an urgent communication and have come to the rescue. We will now begin voice communication from this ship's Captain. Note that due to different language systems, we are transmitting translated audio. Please excuse any minor issues arising from translation errors."
During Sangou's announcement like that, something like a microphone sprouted from the floor in front of Jin, as if to say 'Right here!'
Though surprised by the situation, there was no time to spare.
Jin quickly spoke into the microphone.
"Um. I'm the Captain, Jin. Looks like you're in trouble, so we came to help. From now on, this ship will commence combat operations and eliminate the bandit-like things presumed to be the attackers. If you have any requests other than elimination, contact this ship Sangou via the communication method you used when asking for help. However, we may not necessarily be able to act as you wish. But I'd like to respond within our capability. Over and out."
He watched the now unnecessary microphone sink smoothly back into the floor with an indescribable feeling.
Then Jin asked Sangou.
"Ah... I declared 'eliminate' without confirming with you, Sangou. But, based on the performance I understand you have, from the look of it, you can eliminate bandits of that level, right?"
"Yes. Of course it is possible. By the way, we have received a reply from the bandit side. They said: 'Don't you dare lay a hand on us or our prey! We'll kill you. Get lost and disappear!' How amusing. When estimating the performance of the bandit side's ships from the visual information, those warships are at least thirty generations behind compared to Sangou's reference data. They seem to lack the intelligence to understand that 'it's the same as ants crawling on the ground of a planet picking a fight with a battleship in space.' Hehehe."
The difference of 'over thirty generations' that Sangou told Jin about.
There was no way Jin could judge what kind of disparity in years or performance that created.
That was only natural.
However, instead of that, Jin felt an indescribable fear at the 'hehehe' part of Sangou's last words, which felt like a sneer.
For some reason, it was just plain terrifying.
Well, this proved that 'even a Hero has things he fears.'
Therefore, Jin didn't comment on that terrifying part and maintained his silence.
"Receiving communication waves from the fleeing side. Outputting as audio."
This is the transport ship Beta One, belonging to the Count Betasia's forces. We thank you for the rescue. Whoa, we've been hit! Anyway, we want you to eliminate these guys. Please, help us!
"Good that there wasn't any strange request like 'Don't kill the attackers.' Then, Sangou. Can I leave the elimination of the bandits to you?"
"Yes. Target lock completed. To avoid wasting materials, I will use the Energy Convergence Cannon, which utilizes energy from the star. Fire."
Jin was able to see a light like an anime beam cannon through the monitor feed.
Of course, that was from the Energy Convergence Cannon fired by Sangou.
Fired multiple at once, it was a shower of light in a horizontal direction.
At the moment of impact, Jin, who thought 'Will it make a big explosion?' was let down; the light simply pierced through the bandit ships and small craft.
Multiple rounds struck each bandit ship, and it was easy to imagine that the people inside would hardly survive.
For the sake of aesthetic, I want flashy exploding fireworks here!
He could imagine the bandits died inside, but Jin found himself having such inappropriate thoughts.
Jin was Sangou's captain, the one who ordered the attack, and should be responsible.
But in his actions and thoughts at that moment, he was like a spectator.
The bandits were dealt with easily.
However, Beta One, which had been seeking rescue, showed no sign of stopping.
Did they get hit by a bandit attack and have their engine or thrusters damaged?
To Jin's eyes, Beta One appeared to be moving only by inertia.
At this rate, they'll get caught in the gravity well of the fifteenth planet, won't they?
As Jin imagined that and thought 'Well, what should we do?', Sangou called out.
"Captain. Beta One's hull surface temperature is dropping rapidly. In all likelihood, 'a serious malfunction has occurred.' There is no reply to our communication hails. What will you do?"
"Well. With your performance, Sangou, you could forcibly bring that ship to a stop and then tow it, right? But, aside from taking in only the lifeforms inside, it's 'impossible' to take in or repair that whole transport ship, correct?"
Beta One, despite being called a 'transport ship,' was only about sixty percent of Sangou's length.
However, at that size, it was obvious Sangou couldn't store it inside.
But it was different for the Hero Jin, who possessed the Storage Space.
The confirmation ended up feeling odd because Jin, who had supposedly had Sangou's performance data stuffed into his head, unconsciously thought, 'I can do it, so maybe Sangou can too?'
"Yes, that is correct. Currently, there are signs of lifeforms inside. However, the signs are weak. From the current situation, I surmise 'they won't last long at this rate.'"
"Got it. For now, pull up alongside and forcibly stop it. Can you generate gravity waves to adjust things so the lifeforms inside don't die crashing into things due to inertia? If you do that, I'll use my Shield Magic to create a space where life is not endangered for the time being."
"You will use that special field? However, even if you envelop it, the internal environment would be maintained as is, wouldn't it?"
"Yeah. (For a while) That's right. But I, as a Hero, have a sustained area recovery spell. I'll power through it with raw magical power, so no problem. I think!"
Certainty nor confidence.
Jin had neither at this time.
Nevertheless, declaring it anyway was the Hero Jin for you.
Even if they don't make it, the bad guys are the bandits who attacked, not me!
He didn't tell Sangou about it, but having such doubts like 'Is that really okay?' probably caused less trouble by not voicing them.
Incidentally, if the entire Beta One was enveloped by the Shield Magic, the interior would gradually change to an environment where Jin could survive.
However, it wouldn't change instantly; depending on the size of the interior space, the change would require a corresponding amount of time.
"Then, I will commence capture-stop operations and gravity wave adjustment for Beta One. Approximately ten seconds until completion."
"As expected of you. Then I'll wait for ten seconds. Activate Shield Magic. Activate sustained area recovery spell."
The capture succeeded smoothly, and the status quo was maintained.
They were able to quickly complete up to that point, but the problem was 'Well, what do we do from here?'
Initially, the plan was 'to get them indebted to us and then extract information.'
However, at present, the rescued lifeforms were not in a state where they could converse.
Additionally, it was at a level where he had to worry 'Will they even be alive when we meet them?'
"By the way, Captain. Regarding the bandits we eliminated earlier. When I approached to check for life signs, the machines and ship hulls were disappearing one after another. I judged it to be 'low priority' and that 'the Captain had performed some action,' so I did not report it until now."
At Sangou's words, Jin scratched his cheek, with an air of 'Well, of course you noticed.'
At this point, there was no point in trying to hide it.
Therefore, it goes without saying that this was a 'situation where honesty was necessary.'
"Yeah! I stashed them all in my Storage Space! Sorry for not telling you."
"'Storage Space'? Such a thing exists? What is it, and what is its principle? I am very intrigued."
Even if asked about the principle, there's no way Jin could answer.
From Jin's perspective, he just uses it because it's usable.
That being the case, he concisely conveyed only what he knew to Sangou.
"So far, I haven't felt any limit to its storage capacity. And only non-living things can be stored."
Jin ended the explanation there, saying 'I don't know anything else.'
"I see. A skill that is convenient to use despite its principle being a mystery. If it were me, Sangou, I would hesitate to use it, considering the possibility that 'the things I put in might not come out' since the principle is unknown."
Sangou's argument might be reasonable in its own way.
However, Jin was a Hero from Japan.
His country was a paradise of anime, manga, and light novels; with the assumption of 'knowing that thing from a certain cat robot,' what would happen?
Jin held a different view from Sangou.
He didn't have the slightest hesitation in using the Storage Space.
Not a bit.
Moreover, before Jin became a Hero, there were countless civilized conveniences in Japan whose principles he didn't understand, and he lived using them, so 'what more can be said?'
"So, yeah. The things that seem to be the bandit corpses are also in my Storage Space now. But since I stored them with the recognition that they are 'ships' and 'small machines,' I can't take out just the 'corpses' to 'examine' them. If I could, I would at least know 'what kind of appearance those creatures have.'"
At this point, Jin hadn't thought of 'taking out just the small machines inside Sangou to examine them.'
Sangou noticed that point, but since she thought 'priority goes to rescue operations on the transport ship over examination,' she didn't mention it.
"Is that so? The bandits' small craft had bipedal walking, a pair of arms, and a head, which are appearance characteristics similar to the Captain's. Therefore, as a surmise, I think 'they are intelligent lifeforms with such a shape.' Thus, it should be safe to assume 'they have similar visual characteristics to the Captain.'"
When explained in words, it was a guess that made him think, 'Well, that's quite reasonable.'
For Jin, it was also a relief that the lifeforms seemed similar to humans (Earthlings), so he couldn't help but get a little hopeful.
Please let it be a princess or a noble's daughter!
He would never voice that inner cry out loud.
Still, Jin couldn't stop his otaku brain from activating.
"R-right. Yeah. Well, about that transport ship. I can only think of two options: for me to go myself using my magic to envelop myself in a shield to investigate, or for you to send in a sub-unit, Sangou. Do you have any good ideas?"
"Yes. I believe those two methods are the only ones. However, rather than the Captain going out of your way, I judge that 'investigation via sub-unit, and if possible, transport of the humanoid lifeforms aboard this ship' is best for Sangou."
"I see. So that's how it is. Then, I'll leave it to the sub-units. I'll watch on the monitor."
"Yes. Then I will first prioritize investigating the location with life signs using the sub-units. Currently, there are three signs."
For a ship about three hundred meters long, only three survivors.
This was Jin's intuition, but there was no way the crew was that small.
In other words, Sangou was telling him the fact that 'most of them have died.'
It was the result of doing what they could, so Jin didn't feel responsible for it.
"Three life signs. We have arrived near where they are gathered in one spot. There is what appears to be a door, but its opening mechanism is damaged and non-functional. Attempting forced opening with sub-units."
The three sub-units had the appearance of a 'mini Sangou,' replicating her shape in miniature.
Two of them used what looked like wing parts as arms to forcibly pry open the entrance door, while Jin watched from another sub-unit's perspective on the monitor.
"Opening complete. Confirming air outflow from the interior. Temperature is also dropping rapidly. The lifeforms are sleeping inside some kind of machine. Captain, please check the visual feed."
"Oh! Elfu? Is this an 'Elf'!"
Jin's excitement shot through the roof.
And in the room, unfortunately, there were two corpses that seemed to have passed away.
The sub-units busily collected and analyzed somatic cells from the corpses.
"The results of genetic analysis from the corpses are in. Most of the genes match or approximate the Captain's. While this is merely a guess, the component analysis of the air that flowed out also suggests that the breathable air composition is the same and safe. From the estimated standard muscle strength and physique, I judge that individual gravity adjustment is unnecessary."
What an extremely convenient result.
No, as for Jin, there was no inconvenience in that result at all!
Rather, it was very welcome!
"I see. I've confirmed the location. I'll surround those capsule pod things with Shield Magic. Will it be possible to lift and transport them along with the shield?"
"Yes. Then, once I confirm the special field created by the Captain's Shield Magic, I will have the sub-units carry them. However, after bringing them onboard, I will quarantine them and perform sterilization processing and a health check. Once that is done and if there are no problems, the flow will be 'the Captain converses with them via monitor to determine future actions.' Is that acceptable?"
Jin was surprised that proper quarantine processing was being performed.
Jin, who hadn't considered such details, could only admire Sangou's proposal.
In a sense, Jin was a muscle-brained, brute-force, half-baked Hero, so it couldn't be helped.
Naturally, he had no alternative, nor could he think of any points to add.
Thus, Jin only conveyed his full approval to Sangou.
"Containment by sub-units is complete. Adjustment of air composition and gravity in the containment room is complete. Now commencing opening of the equipment containing the lifeforms. After opening, we will immediately proceed with sterilization. Is that acceptable?"
"Yeah. Do it as planned."
The man who had never stared intently at a sleeping woman's face and had lived a life completely devoid of such experiences answered Sangou while his eyes remained glued to the monitor.
Even in such a state, he casually stashed Beta One's hull into his own Storage Space.
However, Jin's mind was in a state of great excitement: 'Three beautiful elf women! Three beautiful elf women!'
Taken alone, there would be no one to dispute the assessment that he was 'really just a dangerous guy.'
As Sangou began the health check that also served as quarantine, Jin stopped the sustained area recovery spell he had been maintaining.
"No abnormalities were found in the physical condition of the three."
Sangou's report on their health status was succinct.
However, regarding the capsule pod-like equipment that held the three, it was different.
"It was an item that 'forcibly reduces metabolic functions, performs minimum life support for long periods with little energy, and simultaneously transmits a distress signal.' From a technological perspective, it was worth examining."
From Sangou's perspective, the ship itself was manufactured with technology over thirty generations older than that of the Deltania Star System.
However, this containment equipment was 'quite excellent' or rather, advanced in technology, specifically in the aspect of 'focusing on survival.'
But upon learning that, Jin's thoughts wandered in a rather irrelevant direction: 'In a case like this, that's a hazard all around for being immediately found and caught by the bandits, huh.'
But however.
Regardless of such thoughts, Jin's eyes remained glued to the monitor.
"Biological reaction level is rising. I judge that 'they will likely recover to a state capable of conversation within a few hours.' Until the situation changes, may I convert the asteroids near the fifteenth planet into navigation energy?"
"Ah. Right, we still didn't have enough energy. Yeah! Go ahead and stock up on energy! And while you're at it, prep some food for me too, please!"
And so, the pair of Hero Jin and Sangou attempted a rescue intervention on the transport ship under bandit attack, and succeeded in bringing on board Sangou the three elf women who had survived in a dormant state.
What kind of reaction will the elf women, now only awaiting their awakening, show toward Jin and Sangou, their protectors and rescuers?
No one knows the future, however.
The Hero-sama, who defeated the Demon Lord in the summoned other world, couldn't help but stare excitedly at the too-beautiful sleeping faces of the not-yet-awakened elf women.
Excited by the overwhelming situation, Jin's way of speaking to Sangou was starting to get a bit loose.