Chapter 1

[May 10, 20XX]

The spacecraft crashed, and the escape pod could no longer be reused. This was a planet in a primitive era. The only fortunate thing was that the Biocomputer remained undamaged.

Due to insufficient energy, only one Mimetic Camouflage could be performed. After scanning and evaluating the local lifeforms within a three-hundred-meter radius, I transformed into a small, four-legged warm-blooded creature.

[May 11, 20XX]

The Biocomputer’s energy was depleted. Unable to replenish it through normal means, I temporarily connected it to the spinal blood vessels to draw energy from the bloodstream.

I need food.

[May 12, 20XX]

I need food.

[May 13, 20XX]

I arrived at an unnatural habitat inhabited by multiple species. The dominant species was a bipedal, upright creature. Based on observation, they possessed relatively high intelligence and were likely the dominant species of this habitat.

These creatures had transportation tools, though their speed was slow. However, they posed a considerable threat to my mimetic form. I needed to be cautious.

Energy was critically low, and I still hadn’t obtained food.

According to observations, a mutualistic symbiotic relationship existed among the creatures here. Weaker creatures could seek help from the dominant species of the habitat through language and physical gestures.

I decided to give it a try.

The vocalizations of the species I mimicked were peculiar—”Mew~”—very faint, fitting the definition of “weak.”

Soon, one of the dominant species approached me (initial scans confirmed it was a male).

“Little guy, what are you doing here?” The computer translated his words.

“Food, I need food.” I sought his help.

He looked at me—the species on this planet controlled their facial muscles to make different expressions. I knew this was a form of communication, but I hadn’t deciphered it yet.

“Are you hungry?”

“Yes, I need food.”

After I answered again, he still didn’t give me food. It seemed that, given this species’ level of intelligence, they couldn’t understand the language of other local species: unable to comprehend each other’s speech, yet they had established a seemingly stable symbiotic relationship. After replenishing my energy with food, perhaps I should study the communication methods between the local species.

“You don’t even have the energy to meow. You must be starving.” He tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Wait here.”

Then he turned and left.

My plea for help had failed.

I thought I should try again in a different location: the transportation tools capable of crushing me were too close to the low bushes where I was hiding. They were dangerous—even to their own operators—which might be why my plea failed.

I needed to find a place where both parties felt safe. Over the past few days, I had adapted to this form’s movement, but without the computer’s guidance, I might waste more energy searching for a suitable spot.

My energy was critically low. If I hadn’t connected the Biocomputer to my blood vessels, the consumption might not have been this rapid. But if I couldn’t power the computer, this fragile device would die.

—And then I would completely lose all hope of signaling the interstellar rescue team.

Food!

Never before had I craved food so desperately!

“Little guy.” A familiar voice approached.

It was that same male from earlier, holding a colored plant-fiber product in his hand.

The mimicry granted me keen olfactory senses: I smelled the scent of food from this planet.

“I shouldn’t be feeding you this, but there’s only KFC nearby, so we’ll have to make do.” As he spoke, he crouched down and gently pushed a golden, irregularly shaped sphere toward me.

The mimicry allowed me to consume any food on this planet, so I wasn’t worried. I swallowed the food directly.

A very… indescribable taste.

But in my energy-deprived state, it greatly stimulated my appetite.

The mimicked teeth could only roughly tear the food, increasing the burden on my digestive system and hindering rapid energy absorption—but at least I had obtained food.

The dominant species of this habitat seemed quite friendly toward weak and non-threatening creatures. Throughout my meal, that male patiently continued offering me food.

—Though their civilization was very primitive, the relationships between lifeforms on this planet were better than I had expected.

Since that was the case, I didn’t mind expressing my gratitude to the local inhabitants after finishing my meal: “Thank you for your help. I—Qikeliyah Frandostali—will record this encounter in my memoirs.”

—Though whether he could understand me was beyond my concern.

“Are you full?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “Now I should go.”

“Are you a stray cat?” he continued questioning.

“I’m not… Explaining this is complicated, and you wouldn’t be able to—Ah! What are you doing?!” A sudden change made me cry out in alarm!

This native creature had hooked his upper limbs around my body and lifted me off the ground!

The size difference between my mimicked form and his was too great, and I hadn’t yet learned the attack methods of this species—Stars above! I couldn’t even escape the grasp of a primitive species!

“Be good, don’t struggle. There are too many cars here—it’s dangerous for you.” He made soothing shushing sounds. “Since you don’t have a home, how about I take care of you?”

…Hm?

If my computer hadn’t mistranslated, he was offering to provide me with food and shelter?

In that case, until the rescue ship arrived, my safety could indeed be guaranteed to some extent…

“Come home with me?” He gently shook his upper limbs, as if urging me to respond.

The computer rapidly analyzed my current situation and suggested acceptance.

“Fine.”