Three chapters in one go, thanks for the treat!
I love that dilemma they had on their hands but even more so the decision of Hoaki. He's so right. This is a bleak reality but their society as is is too fucked-up. If it was an actual positive illusion, maybe, but what they have is already a perversion of their true nature as protected species.
Might as well get rid of the ritual and useless sacrifices to their overlords relic specimens.