Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V2Part3

Part 11 (Part 3 of Volume 2) Shooting down an enemy fighter.

It's as simple as that in words, but achieving it requires a certain kind of "miracle."

—You must push all human abilities to their limits to achieve a "kill."

The words taught to Kiyoaki by Akmed back on his hometown of Messus Island exploded in his mind.

He gritted his teeth. Tilting the control stick sideways, he raised the nose and desperately chased after the enemy's tail in a right turn.

Beyond the shield, the silver aircraft was trying to escape. The vibrations accompanying high-speed flight conveyed directly into the sights. Adjusting the throttle meticulously to catch the enemy within the crosshair, the enemy aircraft slipped out of sight in the blink of an eye.

Flying at around four hundred kilometres per hour, they moved through three-dimensional space without restraint; Kiyoaki had to fit the enemy aircraft into this small crosshair and pull the trigger to shoot it down. Pilots were recognized as competent only after shooting down enemy aircraft, but Kiyoaki realized how endlessly far that path was.

If he shot down five enemy aircraft, he would earn the title of ace. Indeed, it would be impossible for an ordinary human to achieve the "kill" five times. When he was on the ground, he had thought, "Only five?" But now, engaging in mock air battles, he understood how much of a miracle it was to achieve a "kill."

However, he had no time for complaints. If he threw the controls away now, the enemy would soon take his back and shoot him down. In twenty minutes, one side had to achieve that "miracle." Chosen as someone capable of doing so, that was why the students of the flight department were flying in the sky.

—I can do it. I can do it. I can do it...

As he told himself this while pursuing the enemy aircraft, the silver silhouette struggled violently, trying to shake him off.

—I have been flying since I was a child.

—I was at the top of my class in piloting at the South River Officer School. I was taught directly by Master Akmed.

—And I am the son of the ace of the Akitsu Islands.

—I am used to mock air battles. I am not the same as I was two months ago.

—I cannot lose. No, I should not lose.

Chastising the faltering part of his mind, he fixed his gaze through the windscreen, waiting for the enemy to weaken.

In a dogfight, just as it was hard for him, it was hard for the enemy too. The opponent must also be suffering from a lack of blood flow, breathing difficulties, and the terrible cries of overworked muscles. Both sides were putting all their cultivated mental and physical abilities to the limit; whoever gave up first would lose.

Then—.

The enemy silhouette wavered and began to settle into the crosshairs.

The opponent was the first to reach their limits in stamina and morale. The fierceness of struggling like a large fish trying to shake off a hook had vanished, leaving only a position waiting to be caught.

Kiyoaki placed his right thumb on the trigger of the 7.7mm machine gun mounted beside the control stick.

All he had to do was pull the trigger, and the special round would fire, dyeing the enemy aircraft's body red, granting him victory.

But.

—Why do I have to shoot it down?

Such doubts skimmed the edges of his thoughts.

—Am I flying to kill people?

Even with a one-in-a-thousand chance, his thumb stubbornly refused to press the button.

—I love the sky. I love flying.

—Will I be flying to kill people in such a beautiful sky from now on?

—I want to be a pilot. I don't want to be a flying killer.

Those thoughts wouldn't stop. They overflowed. His thumb on the trigger became as stiff as stone.

He loved the sky more than anyone else. That pride prevented him from killing the enemy with all his skills.

And the battlefield wouldn't let even a moment of hesitation slide.

"Ah..."

Before he knew it, the enemy aircraft had regained its strength and escaped into the distance outside his crosshairs. He hastily descended to pursue it, but the enemy, having realized Kiyoaki’s superior skills, wouldn’t face him directly. It was better to draw and not lose points than to lose.

"The time limit has been exceeded. It's a draw."

The familiar voice of the instructor echoed through the speaker. Kiyoaki stared blankly at the enemy silhouette in the distance, then lowered the control stick with a pale expression.

That made it fourteen battles with two wins, zero losses, and twelve draws. Zero kills. Ranked fifty-first out of one hundred forty.

Carrying such a mediocre record, he lowered his heavy feet to the ground.

On the runway, the Gray Fox was lined up in formation, waiting for the next group of students to board for mock air battles.

At the front was Illia. Kiyoaki glanced at her awkwardly, but Illia didn't even look his way.

She was completely indifferent to him.

That reality crushed his heart.

He trudged to the air command centre to report the battle’s progress, feeling dispirited. After finishing his report to the instructor and stepping outside, he saw Illia skilfully bombard an enemy aircraft with paintballs in the clear sky. Instead of hesitation, her shooting was mechanical, like a document piercing through holes.

The closeness he had felt when piloting the same Gray Fox together two months ago was now gone. He silently watched Illia's back as she aimed for the high heavens, feeling distant...

—Illia feels so far away...

While he gazed blankly at Illia's silhouette soaring through the unoccupied sky, he suddenly heard a voice.

"Excuse me, Sakagami Kiyoaki, right?"

Startled, he turned around to see a woman he had never met approaching him with a blank expression. Stopping three steps in front of him, she pushed her glasses up with her fingertips without a smile.

"Ah, yes... I'm Sakagami."

"I am Tokiwa, a member dispatched from the Selfaust branch of the Akitsu Federation. I apologize for bothering you while you are busy. I appreciate your cooperation today."

She handed him a business card, and Kiyoaki looked closely at the woman in front of him. Trying to remember, he finally recalled.

"Oh... right, the interview today. Uh, is it happening now...?"

"No, I recognized your face, so I thought I’d greet you. The interview for the two of you will be after classes, in the student building. For now, we just need to do some filming."

Upon hearing "the two of you will be interviewed," Kiyoaki recalled.

That's right. At the request of the Akitsu Federation's national newspaper, Akitsu Daily, he was supposed to have an interview with Illia. He had wanted to refuse if possible, but the media-loving principal had readily agreed without consideration.

"I see... Thank you."

"I would appreciate it if I could accompany you for a while to capture your natural school life, but I have already obtained permission from the school."

"Uh... well... Sure, I don't mind."

Faced with Tokiwa’s authoritative announcement, Kiyoaki couldn't refuse and reluctantly agreed. With semi-long hair and glasses, and dressed in a stylish black suit that accentuated her figure, she seemed to be in her mid-twenties, exactly the type of career woman working for a major newspaper. The strong gaze behind her glasses hid undeniable intelligence and ambition.

—She looks intimidating...

Kiyoaki kept his thoughts to himself as he led Tokiwa to the group of flight department students watching the mock air battles beside the runway.

The students had been observing the media coverage of "The Seven of Eriadore" for the past two months, so they weren’t concerned that Kiyoaki was being followed by a female reporter. Instead, they seemed more interested in the skills of their peers, intently watching the sky to memorize their rivals' tactics, special moves, and weaknesses.

Kiyoaki looked up at the azure sky. Balthazar was the one fighting. It was known that he excelled in academics, but he was also ranked second in mock air battles, right behind Illia. Using the enemy’s weaknesses that he had researched beforehand, Balthazar relentlessly targeted them, striking when it mattered. The opposing aircraft was helpless against his assault and succumbed to a paintball hit in the side. The top ten were all strong, and the gap between them and the lower-ranked students widened over time.

Hawks and prey.

In the arena of aerial combat, only these two exist. Kiyoaki understood this concept intellectually. No matter how much a prey cries out for love after losing its wings, being skinned, and having its flesh eaten, it’s nothing but the lament of a pitiful loser. The hawk, unaffected by such pleas, flies in search of new prey.

—Which one do I want to be?

He asked himself that question. There was no need for an answer. Who would willingly offer their blood and flesh to the enemy? Anyone who would do so would be nothing but a fool.

—I want to be a hawk.

Without thinking, he clenched his fists at his waist. Tokiwa immediately captured his profile on camera. Though he found it somewhat bothersome, Kiyoaki continued to watch his peers’ battles until the end.

After classes ended, they had dinner in the cafeteria, and then it was time for the interview with Akitsu Daily in the student building's conference room. Tokiwa sat across the table, with Kiyoaki and Illia sitting side by side.

"Thank you for meeting with us today, Sakagami-san, and Kreischmidt-san. Have you had a chance to review the questions I sent beforehand?"

Kiyoaki tilted his head, and Illia remained completely still. Tokiwa looked puzzled.

"Did they not arrive?"

"I... don’t remember seeing them."

"And you, Kreischmidt-san?"

"......Yes."

Tokiwa slightly furrowed her brows.

"It seems there was a mix-up. I had informed the principal in advance... It must be a communication issue. Normally, I should inform you later, but..."

Tokiwa fell silent. No one in the conference room spoke. An uncomfortable stillness filled the air. Both Tokiwa and Illia sank into a serene silence.

Who should break the silence first? Who should speak the words Tokiwa was waiting for? Kiyoaki found himself resenting his tendency to be overly considerate of others, and finally, he awkwardly broke the silence.

"Um, since it’s a hassle to do it twice, it’s okay to continue as we are..."

"Is that so? That helps. Kreischmidt-san, is that alright with you?"

"........................"

"........................"

Another long silence fell, reminiscent of a deep valley in the mountains. It felt like his heart would freeze in this stillness.

"Um, I’ll check the draft later, so it’s fine. Illia, you’re okay with that too, right? It would be a hassle to repeat the same thing."

"........................"

Ilia kept her gaze fixed on the empty space in front of her, slightly lowering her chin. She seemed to have nodded, although perhaps she didn’t. Still, Kiyoaki decided to proceed, interpreting it as a nod.

"Yes, Illia says it’s fine too. Thank you."

"Thank you. Then..."

Tokiwa took out a recording device and placed it on the table. After pressing a button, the recording tape vibrated softly and began to spin.

After confirming that the device was operational, the first question was posed.

"Both of your fathers, Sakagami Masaharu, the Flight Captain, and Karsten Kreischmidt, are sworn enemies. Do you think there will be any issues with you living the same school life as children of these two?"

Kiyoaki nearly choked on his words. Illia remained motionless.

"Sakagami-san, what do you think?"

Tokiwa's icy words pierced through the air. Kiyoaki swallowed hard and offered a safe response.

"Um... I try not to think about such things. We are ourselves..."

"And Kreischmidt-san?"

"........................"

"Kreischmidt was reported to have lost his right arm due to a betrayal by Sakagami. Do you believe that?"

Ilia's eyes glinted with murderous intent.

"......What other causes could there be?"

In a subdued tone, she returned a question for a question. Tokiwa opened her bag and placed a thick document on the table.

"This is the testimony of the Akitsu military pilots who witnessed that duel. Although there were interruptions from the wingman or other aircraft, the outcome was decided before that. The Sakagami aircraft's 'snake shot' took down Captain Karsten... Almost everyone agrees with this."

"The records of the St Vault military state that a wingman shot down my father."

"Do you personally believe that, Kreischmidt-san?"

Kiyoaki watched as an ominous cloud of tension began to build between Tokiwa and Illia.

This interview was going poorly. Tokiwa had come with some sort of ulterior motive, likely intending to stoke conflict between Kiyoaki and Illia to pique the readers' interest...

His instincts whispered this, prompting Kiyoaki to interject.

"Um, Tokiwa-san. It's not possible to discuss events that happened in the past here, so that question might not be appropriate..."

"By the way, it seems that within the military, cowards are referred to as 'Sakagami.' What do you think about that, Sakagami-san?"

At that moment, Kiyoaki felt as if he had been struck in the head. He had never heard of such a term.

"W-What’s that? I’ve never heard of such a thing."

"It’s said to be military slang. If you joined the St Vault air and naval forces, you would inevitably hear it."

He was unaware of it.

Kiyoaki glanced at Illia's profile beside him. She showed no response or reaction, only an increasing coldness surrounding her.

"W-What kind of person are you? Are you really a journalist? Why would you say something like that in front of us?"

His voice trembled without him intending it. He didn’t want his father to be insulted by a stranger. A surge of intense anger welled up within him, making it hard to control himself.

However, Tokiwa seemed unfazed. She had probably repeated such rude interviews, writing articles that captured readers' attention. The more Kiyoaki expressed his emotions, the more Tokiwa's voice took on a composed, intellectual tone.

"Once called "The Kings of the Sky," two ace pilots. The children who inherit their blood gather at the same school and compete against each other. Everyone in the Akitsu Federation wishes to know about your lives. I must write an article that responds to that. There may be difficult questions, but please bear with me."

Her tone was like a pre-recorded message. This woman is dangerous; it’s best not to get involved. Kiyoaki decided this and rose from his chair.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t want to continue this interview. I don’t want it in the article. Illia, let’s go."

He urged Illia, but she remained frozen, glaring at Tokiwa. Illia's pride wouldn’t allow her to flee while her father was being spoken about like this.

"......Please, ask your questions."

Ilia’s voice was quiet, but it was clear she had been provoked. Kiyoaki could see the atmosphere around Illia shimmering like a flame.

"Regarding your performance in the mock air battles, I’ve heard that Kreischmidt-san is overwhelmingly outperforming you. What do you think about this outcome?"

Kiyoaki instinctively held his breath, standing still as he looked down at Illia. He wanted to hear the answer from her lips.

"........................"

Ilia didn’t answer. Tokiwa didn’t urge her further. Kiyoaki remained paralysed.

After a long silence, Illia finally answered the question.

"That result is still a work in progress."

With just that, she fell silent again. Tokiwa pressed on.

"The final results of the mock air battles will be revealed in mid-February. Indeed, there are still about three months left. Is there a possibility for change during that time?"

After Tokiwa's question, another uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Kiyoaki was deeply concerned about Illia's response.

"I don’t know."

Ilia answered succinctly. Seeing Kiyoaki’s bewilderment, Tokiwa reacted swiftly as if to jab at Illia.

"Is there a sense of pressure not to lose to Sakagami-san?"

"......I feel that way toward all the students in the flight department."

"You won't bring the rivalry between your fathers into the mock air battles?"

"I don’t understand the intent of your question."

"The records indicate that Kiyoaki Sakagami shot down your father, and it would be proven that Captain Karsten is superior to Sakagami Masaharu by defeating you... Is that something you think about?"

"........................"

Ilia glared at Tokiwa, remaining motionless. Kiyoaki wanted Illia to deny it. If he were asked the same question, he would immediately deny it.

The rivalry between their fathers was irrelevant. Their achievements were not connected to their parents' standings. Such a response should be easy to state.

However, Illia merely directed her icy gaze at Tokiwa.

The eyes behind Tokiwa's glasses sparkled with the light of intrigue. It felt as if the question she had just posed had touched upon a deep-seated desire within Illia... That unspoken satisfaction radiated from Tokiwa. Without missing a beat, she pressed further.

"By the way, silence can be more eloquent than a thousand words."

".............................."

"Let’s take it to mean an affirmative response. One last question. After graduation, you will both be commissioned as lieutenants in the St Vault Navy and the Akitsu Air Force. If you were to meet on the battlefield, would you fight each other honourably to the death?"

"Tokiwa-san!!"

Kiyoaki could no longer contain his anger. But Tokiwa maintained her composure, focusing solely on Illia.

"Ilia, let’s go. We don’t need to answer this interview. Tokiwa-san, you can write whatever you want for your article, but I will protest formally when the time comes. Also, please don’t come back."

Tokiwa raised her eyes only to Kiyoaki.

"What about you, Sakagami-san? By defeating Kreischmidt-san in a duel, would you wish to fulfill your father's regrets of being called a coward...? Is that what you think?"

"I don’t think so!!"

He yelled.

"Really?"

"Of course!! Illia, this interview is meant to hurt us. We shouldn’t engage any further."

Finally, Illia lowered her gaze and stood up.

"Are you running away?"

Tokiwa threw a challenge at Illia’s back. Illia glanced back, as if she was about to say something, but swallowed her words and followed Kiyoaki out of the conference room.

Just before closing the door, Kiyoaki took one last look at Tokiwa, left behind in the room. The eyes behind her glasses were unreadable, and he couldn’t gauge her emotions. He sensed she would continue to come here in the future. With an ominous feeling, he decided he would never get involved again and left the room.

"What’s with that person? That’s way too off the mark."

As he walked down the corridor alongside Illia, Kiyoaki’s anger remained. Illia followed him closely, not even giving a nod of agreement.

"To come in and investigate someone’s family matters and then throw challenges around. It’s shameful. I’m embarrassed as an Akitsu citizen."

"........................"

"There are supposed to be polite Akitsu people, but there are those like her. All they think about is their own gain, and they’ll easily insult and demean others for it. She’s the lowest kind of adult."

They stopped under a gas lamp in the courtyard. It was already quite dark, and the chill of November had settled down to the ground.

While he expressed the emotions he couldn’t contain, Kiyoaki noticed Illia’s expression.

The bluish-purple light from the gas lamp enveloped Illia’s entire body. Her expression remained unchanged, but for some reason, his heart skipped a beat.

Come to think of it, it had been two months since he was alone with Illia. He realized this now.

"Oh... Sorry. I’ve been talking on my own."

"........................"

Illia stood silently in front of Kiyoaki, not responding or leaving. Her deep green eyes remained fixed on him.

"Um... yeah. That was a rude interview..."

For some reason, his heartbeat quickened. The sweet scent, reminiscent of grapes, wafted from her hair, making him feel good.

He knew that she was someone with whom conversation was difficult, but since they finally had this time alone, he wanted to share the things weighing on his heart.

"There’s no way we’d bring our parents’ rivalry into mock air battles... that’s just not it. We are who we are."

"........................"

"And... my performance doesn’t even compare to yours. If we were closer in scores, it would make for an interesting article, but it’s just not a competition."

His words felt foolish. He wished he could come up with something more clever to say, but he couldn’t stop himself.

"Reiner mentioned it, but I really don’t have a talent for fighter aircraft. I can escape from enemies or crash into clouds, but if I can’t shoot them down, it doesn’t matter."

"........................"

Illia offered no comments, nor did she provide any words of comfort, disdain, or anger about his inadequacy. She simply stood there, looking straight at Kiyoaki. He had realized she couldn’t engage in conversation, but it seemed this time had been wasted.

"Sorry. I shouldn’t have kept you. Well then, goodnight..."

With a sigh, he raised his right hand in farewell and turned to leave when a low, cold voice reached his back.

"If you had shot when you should have, your record would be twelve wins, zero losses, and two draws."

Her voice was hard and clear, like climbing a cliff with climbing gear.

He turned back. The blue light enveloped Illia as she maintained her usual icy demeanour.

"......Huh?"

"If converted to score, you would be in the top ten. There is no issue with your technique; the cause is psychological. Think carefully about why you should shoot down enemy aircraft. That is the only thing you need to overcome."

“...Then.”

With a single breath, Illia turned on her heel and left into the darkness.

“...Illia...”

Kiyoaki stared blankly at the darkness where Illia had vanished.

It was an unusually long speech for Illia. This was likely the first time he had seen her weave such a lengthy sentence while on the ground.

Moreover, the content was an analysis of Kiyoaki's aerial combat abilities.

He had thought Illia paid him no mind, but she had been carefully observing his manoeuvres and even calculated the scores he should have achieved. Looking back on the previous battles, it was indeed true that if he had shot when he was supposed to, he could have achieved around twelve victories. If he had pulled the trigger today, he might have won.

What was even more surprising was—

—Illia is cautious of me...

That fact filled him with immense joy. She even went out of her way to share how he could overcome his weaknesses. Considering her own performance, there was no benefit for her in doing so.

“Illia... thank you.”

He sent his gratitude into the darkness where Illia had disappeared.

—What is the purpose of shooting down enemy aircraft...?

He contemplated the message Illia had conveyed. Seriously, earnestly, and with all his being, he examined his own issues.

When he returned to the dormitory and lay down on his bed, he continued to think about Illia's words. Of course, he wanted to dispel the frustration he felt, but he also wanted to overcome his weaknesses to respond to Illia, who had generously offered her advice.

—What is the purpose of shooting down enemy aircraft?

—What is the purpose of flying on the battlefield?

—What is the purpose of killing people...?

That question was more profound and distant than he had anticipated. As he began to delve deeper, he realized he had to confront the very reason for his existence here. Moreover, there should be no justifiable reason for killing someone in the first place.

Staring intently at the ceiling of the bunk bed and listening to Reiner’s breathing from the upper bunk, Kiyoaki continued to search for an answer. He didn’t expect to find an answer to such a philosophical and abstract question, but he also understood that if he didn’t answer it, he would remain stuck with his current performance.

—Can I fly to kill people? For what purpose...?

He pondered that until he nearly fell asleep. Even as consciousness faded into darkness, the question continued to sink into his subconscious, searching for answers.