Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V6Part7

Part 21 (Part 7 of Volume 6)

When asked about the name of the star, Mio answered.

“Etica.”

Hachidori snorted and tightened his grip on Mio’s arm.

“Do you know it means "ethics"?”

With her cheek pressed against the ground, tasting the grit of the sand, Mio groaned.

“…So what…?”

Feeling the strain in Mio’s joints, Hachidori continued the conversation, unrelated to their training, while gazing at the unmoving fixed star low in the night sky.

“Don’t you ever feel like killing the idiot who gave such a ridiculous name like "ethics" to something that every person in this world looks up at equally?”

Mio wanted to snap back, but the pain in her twisted right arm, pinned behind her back, was too much to bear. She couldn’t stand Hachidori, who seemed completely indifferent to her suffering and casually brought up nonsensical topics.

“For me to bother training a useless woman like you to become something useful—it’s all just a game for the higher-ups. There’s no ethics, no logic, no necessity behind it.”

Hachidori continued to vent his frustration, applying and easing pressure just at the point where he could have broken Mio’s joints. Finally, Mio dropped the small knife she had been holding in her right hand.

“You’ve died eighteen times tonight.”

Picking up the knife and pressing its blade to Mio’s throat, Hachidori spoke before finally releasing her right arm.

Mio collapsed face-down onto the ground, unable to move. The sound of her heavy breathing echoed quietly in the empty training ground.

December 1st, Imperial Year 1349, Pleiades, Capital of the Urano Kingdom—

Since Reiner Beck, also known as Hachidori, was assigned to the Lamia Palace, the open space in front of the anti-aircraft observation post in the hills behind it had become the training ground for Mio and Hachidori. Every night, Hachidori would train Mio in the hand-to-hand combat skills essential for a special operative, though at times, the “training” devolved into nothing more than an outlet for Hachidori’s frustration. Although Mio was constantly toyed with and humiliated, she never shed tears, determined to master the brutal assassination techniques despite how far removed her life had become from that of an ordinary girl her age.

Bathed in pale moonlight and under a sky full of stars, Hachidori looked down at the fallen Mio.

“How long do you plan to stay down there? Get up.”

He nudged her with the sole of his boot, rolling her over effortlessly. Mio, dressed in the combat uniform of the Urano ground forces, lay there helplessly, turning onto her back without resistance.

“Don’t kick my butt!”

Mio finally managed to shout back, her face contorted in pain. Hachidori responded with a cold smile.

“A special operative has no butt or chest. Your body is just a tool to stop another’s life.”

“What are you even talking about… you pervert!”

“Watch your mouth. The worse your attitude, the harsher the training will be.”

Mio barely swallowed her next insult as she stood up. If Hachidori wasn’t satisfied, the training would never end. She didn’t want to go to work the next day with a body bruised and exhausted.

“I’m doing my best! Now get on with the next part!”

Mio kept up a brave front, yelling as she tried to maintain her composure. Hachidori sneered and set a new challenge.

“Then do what I just did.”

Mio looked at Hachidori for a moment and smirked.

“Me? To you?”

“Yes. Take my weapon. Don’t mess up the steps.”

Hachidori picked up the knife from the ground and held it up toward Mio.

Mio nodded. She had always been on the receiving end, but tonight, for the first time, she was allowed to fight back.

Determined to torment him just as he had tormented her, Mio observed Hachidori’s movements carefully. When the tip of the knife, raised in the air, came down toward her, she crossed her thumbs just as she had been taught. She caught Hachidori’s wrist, forcing her thumbs into the joints of his fingers.

Mio twisted Hachidori’s right hand counterclockwise. With his fingers locked around the knife, Hachidori’s posture collapsed. When his upper body tilted forward, Mio put all her strength into her right leg.

“Take that!”

She swept his legs out from under him, and Hachidori’s body hit the ground hard, his right hand still trapped.

──I did it!

Revelling in her silent victory, Mio wrapped her right arm around his back, twisting it even further. Surely, an unbearable pain was coursing through Hachidori, leaving him with no escape.

──Serves you right, you bastard!

Pouring all her pent-up anger into the action, Mio ruthlessly twisted Hachidori’s joint, intent on breaking it.

However, Hachidori didn’t release the knife. Even though his arm was bent nearly to the point of dislocation, he didn’t utter a single groan. Like a wooden puppet, he simply lay face down on the ground, allowing Mio to do as she pleased with his joints.

“Let go of the knife! I’m going to break your arm!”

Mio shouted, frustrated. It seemed she would have to break his arm to make him release the knife.

“Can you really break it?”

Hachidori’s usual condescending reply came from below.

“If you tell me to, I’ll gladly break it.”

“Go ahead. Try it.”

“...You really shouldn’t underestimate me.”

“Stop wasting time. Do you think you’ll have time for idle chatter on the battlefield?”

“…Fine, I’ll break it. I really will.”

“Just do it, you incompetent.”

With all her determination, Mio twisted Hachidori’s right arm beyond its natural range.

There was a dull crack. The sound of a joint breaking—or so she thought.

“Huh?”

The creaking of Hachidori’s joint had suddenly stopped. It was as if the resistance had disappeared, like a door whose hinges had just been removed.

In her moment of confusion, Hachidori rotated his body, planting both feet firmly on the ground. With his left hand, he grabbed the knife and pressed it against Mio’s throat.

“Nineteenth time. You have absolutely no aptitude for this.”

Mio stood in shock. Hachidori placed his left hand on his right shoulder.

Another dull crack echoed. Mio realized that Hachidori had dislocated his own joint and put it back in place.

“Doesn’t that hurt?”

“After doing it enough times, the pain dulls. At this point, it’s almost painless. You’ll learn it too.”

Mio blinked, processing his words, and then vigorously shook her head.

“No, no, no. No way. I can’t do that!”

“It’s not that hard to learn. You just have to endure the pain. Being able to dislocate your joints at will is useful in many situations.”

“No, thanks! I don’t want to learn something that weird. It definitely hurts.”

“Your opinion doesn’t matter. You will learn it. Let’s go.”

“No, wait… no, no, no…!”

As Mio tried to back away and flee, Hachidori mercilessly grabbed her arm.

Clutching her right shoulder, he coldly whispered:

“The first time hurts the most. Endure it.”

“Noooooooo!”

Right after her scream, the same dull crack that had come from Hachidori’s shoulder earlier now came from Mio’s.

Mio collapsed to her knees, sobbing quietly. Hachidori looked down at her with emotionless eyes.

“It’s a secret technique. Your right hand should be functional by the end of today. It shouldn’t affect your work, but if it’s too much, ask for a break.”

“Ugh...hic...sob...”

Tears and snot covered Mio’s face, and Hachidori stared at her with disgust before letting out a sigh.

“If you cry this much over something like this, you won’t last long.”

“Hic... sob...”

Mio’s beauty had completely crumbled, leaving her a mess. Hachidori exhaled through his nose and spoke inwardly to Reiner.

──This is such a hassle. Take over.

──Got it.

With a casual grin, Reiner took over, crouching down in front of Mio.

"Reiner here. The boss has left. Well, not much consolation, but hey, at least you picked up a weird skill. It's actually pretty handy. If you get caught and restrained, you can dislocate your shoulder and escape."

Reiner spoke casually, but Mio continued to sit on the ground, left hand on her right shoulder, sobbing softly.

"It hurts, I know. The boss had to do it when he was nine. If a nine-year-old kid could endure that pain, you can too."

Mio’s sobbing finally subsided, and she glared at Reiner with tear-streaked eyes.

"It’s not just the pain…!"

"Oh? What else then?"

"I hate that it was forced on me! Treating my shoulder like a toy…"

As her voice broke, Mio was once again overwhelmed by tears. Reiner scratched the back of his head, letting out a sigh.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, the boss was forced to go through training since he was a kid too... In the end, we just have to endure all the awful things thrown at us, given our status. Crying won’t change anything. Can you stand? Let’s go back."

Mio grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at Reiner in a fit of frustration. Reiner didn’t dodge but took it in stride, then supported Mio’s left hand, pulling her to her feet.

"Come on, get up. Crying and whining won’t change a damn thing. Forget about it and keep moving."

Reiner's rough words were followed by forcibly lifting Mio to her feet.

Mio glared at Reiner again and swatted his hand away.

“...Don’t touch me! I can walk on my own…”

“Oh, my bad. Glad to see you’ve got some energy left.”

“...I’m not feeling better at all! If only I could gather energy from the sky!”

“Better than nothing. Anyway, let’s get going.”

Reiner grabbed a lantern and walked alongside Mio down the mountain path in the dark. The dense forest around them was quiet, and through the intertwined branches overhead, the pale moonlight shone down.

Looking up at the moon, Reiner decided to change the topic, hoping to distract Mio.

"Isn’t December 4th the Holy Spirit Festival hosted by the Emperor?"

“…Yeah.”

"And then on the 11th, they’ll decide the new King of Urano at the coronation ceremony. I wonder how Nina is doing. If things go wrong, she might actually end up as the queen, huh?"

“…I don’t know. But Nina herself intends to become the ruler… She’s in a position where that wouldn’t be surprising."

"Nina's more ambitious than she seems, huh? You wouldn’t think it at first glance."

"Don’t call her that. Say "Lady Nina."… I don’t know much about the details, but it sounds complicated."

Mio remembered the interaction she had witnessed between Nina and “Kal-el.” That event seemed to solidify Nina's determination. Ever since hearing that Kal-el’s fleet was on the verge of total annihilation, Nina’s demeanour had visibly shifted, and she had devoted herself with a sense of urgency to maintain her powers as a Windcaller. It was clear to Mio that Nina’s aim was the Urano throne.

Mio hadn’t shared any of this with Reiner. After all, Reiner was a spy for Zenon. If Mio revealed Nina’s personal matters, it could lead to harmful information reaching Zenon, putting Nina at a disadvantage.

──I don’t want Lady Nina to suffer… It’s too cruel.

──I have to make sure Zenon never finds out about Kal-el...

With that thought, Mio realized something.

──I’m prioritizing Lady Nina over Zenon…

Even though she was supposed to be a spy for Zenon, Mio found herself now fully on Nina’s side.

Zenon held the fate of Mio’s family in his hands. To save her entire family, Mio had no choice but to rely on Zenon’s goodwill. That was why she had decided to serve him, sacrificing herself in the process.

──But now, I want to work for Lady Nina’s sake…

When she reflected on her feelings, Mio found herself genuinely caring about Nina. Despite her high status as a contender for the Urano throne, Nina was humble, kind, and never complained even in the face of adversity.

──I want her to be happy…

The Holy Spirit Festival on December 4th would serve as a sort of prelude to the Coronation Festival on the 11th. The festival is based on the legend of three spirits visiting the mother of Saint Aldista to bring good news about the birth of the divine child. During the Holy Spirit Festival, both the Pope Illustriali and Nina Viento were scheduled to give speeches in front of the general public in the plaza of the Grand Cathedral in Evangelis. Whether or not Nina’s speech would gain the support of the populace would play a major role in her bid for the throne.

The approval of the Urano throne rested in the hands of the Senate and the citizens.

In the Senate, the conservative faction supporting the First Prince, Demistri, and the progressive faction backing Nina were locked in a tug of war. Nina’s supporters were the outcasts of the royal court, while Demistri’s aggressive nature resonated well with the military. The Pope’s goal was to secure overwhelming support from the citizens during the Holy Spirit Festival speech to sway undecided senators in Nina’s favour and place her on the throne. The moment of truth was fast approaching.

As they descended the mountain, the distant beacon of the First Circle Tower, where Nina resided, came into view. Lights still glowed in Nina’s chambers. Mio couldn’t stop worrying about what Nina might be thinking under that light.

Carrying such a heavy burden despite her small body and gentle nature, Mio wished she could ease Nina’s load, even just a little.

On December 4th, more than seventy thousand people had gathered in the plaza in front of Evangelis Grand Cathedral, braving the freezing air at 2,000 meters above sea level to catch a glimpse of “the Windcaller Girl,” Nina Viento. They cheered and whistled, sending their calls up into the frozen sky.

As Nina’s attendant, Mio was in the waiting room inside the cathedral, helping Nina get dressed in the formal attire prepared by Pope Illustriali.

The outfit included a purple chemise dress with a plunging neckline, paired with a white bodysuit and draped with a pure white robe. A crown adorned with gemstones rested on her head, along with a silver wig and purple eyeliner. With each new accessory, Nina transformed into someone entirely different from the modest girl Mio knew from Lamia Palace.

According to the explanation, this grand ensemble was modelled after the “Windcaller Girl” foretold in the ancient mythology of Urano. It was all part of creating a divine image for Nina Viento, a “transformation” meant to elevate her saintly status. However, to Mio, who knew the real Nina, the excessive decoration felt unnecessary.

“All finished.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Nina, now resembling a figure from myth, responded in a slightly lower voice than usual. Though her makeup hid it, Mio could tell Nina had been unwell since that morning, likely worn down by the constant strain of calling the wind.

Would Nina really be able to step out and deliver a speech in front of seventy thousand people in her current state?

Sitting in a tall black chair, waiting for her turn, Nina stared into the distance. Mio poured her a cup of tea.

“Thank you.”

But Nina didn’t drink it. She merely gazed into space. Perhaps because of her nightly interactions with forces not of this world, her eyes seemed distant, unfocused.

“Lady Nina, how are you feeling…?”

Mio couldn’t help but ask out of concern.

Nina smiled gently, as if to reassure her.

“I’m fine. Once today is over, I won’t need to continue those rituals anymore.”

“…Yes. Today is what it’s all been for.”

“If I made it to today, it’s thanks to you, Mio, for staying with me every night.”

“Oh, please don’t say that. I was only watching…”

"And Fio too," Nina added jokingly, mentioning her winged friend. Then, she glanced out the window.

"I wonder if Fio will come today as well."

"I'm sure they will. Fio loves you, Nina," Mio replied with a smile.

As Mio was speaking, the door opened, and Countess Ulshyrra appeared, her usual business-like tone filling the room.

"It's time."

"Yes."

"Good luck out there, Nina."

As Nina stood up from her chair, Mio called out impulsively, her words filled with sincerity.

"Um... Everyone at the palace, including me, is really rooting for you! So go out there, say what you need to say, and become the Queen of Urano!"

Mio gave an exaggerated cheer with a fist pump, and Nina smiled.

"Thank you, Mio. Yes, I'll say what I need to say and become the queen."

Nina mimicked Mio's gesture with a cute fist pump, and Mio beamed, clasping her hands in front of her chest.

"I can't be there to see it, but I'll be cheering for you from here! I'll be praying that everything goes well!"

Just then, Ulshyrra turned to Mio and said, "Mio, I need you to help as well."

"Huh?"

"Take this and stand at the edge of the plaza."

Ulshyrra handed Mio a large wicker basket. Looking inside, Mio saw it was filled with colourful flower petals.

"There are about fifty others scattered around the edge of the plaza holding similar baskets. Please make sure to keep a good distance from them."

"All I have to do is stand there?"

"Yes."

Still a little perplexed, Mio took the basket. She wasn’t entirely sure what her role was, but she was excited to be able to witness Nina's speech.

Nina, now looking more serious, turned to Ulshyrra and nodded.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes."

Ulshyrra led the way, and Nina followed. Mio silently sent her unspoken encouragement to Nina's back.

Do your best, Nina.

When Nina becomes the Queen of Urano, the world will surely change...

With these thoughts in mind, Mio quickly made her way through the corridors, exiting through the back door and reaching the large plaza in front of the cathedral, where the crowd eagerly awaited Nina's arrival.

As instructed by Ulshyrra, Mio headed towards the outer edge of the plaza, pushing through the throngs of people. The plaza, large enough to double as an airfield, was packed with what seemed like an endless sea of people. While making her way through the crowd with the basket in hand, she overheard snippets of conversations.

Most of the crowd was excited to see Nina Viento in person for the first time. There were plenty of idle rumours about her beauty and her mysterious abilities. However, since people had only known Nina through newspapers, magazines, and radio broadcasts, many were still skeptical of this "prophesied saviour" who had come from beyond the sea on a flying island.

"She's not even an Urano citizen…," "Is it really okay to make a foreigner our queen?" "I heard she doesn't even support Urano's control over the land," "They say she's against the holy war. Apparently, she hates the idea of war itself," "Can we really trust someone like that to be our ruler? Our taxes built that military, and now she won't even use it. What was the point?" These and other negative remarks about Nina could be heard all around. It was clear that the rumours spread by Demistri’s faction had seeped into the general public’s consciousness. If Nina failed in today's speech, those voices would grow louder and harder to ignore.

Breathing heavily, Mio finally reached the edge of the plaza and confirmed that no one else holding a similar basket was nearby. She waited for the speech to begin. Standing on her tiptoes, she could just make out the iron stage set up in front of the cathedral, along with microphones, speakers, and sound amplifiers. Everything was ready, and all that remained was for the main event to begin. The crowd's anticipation centred on how the "prophesied saviour" would present her case for the Urano throne.

The speech would also be broadcast via radio to every land nation influenced by Urano. Standing before such an enormous stage, could that frail Nina really deliver her speech? The thought made Mio anxious once again.

"Nina..."

As Mio whispered Nina’s name in prayer, a white-winged figure descended from the clear blue sky and landed on her shoulder.

"Fio! You came!"

Mio smiled. The white bird let out a small chirp and gazed towards the distant stage.

"Let’s cheer for Nina. She’s worked so hard for this day…"

At Mio's words, Fio suddenly flapped their wings and flew off towards the stage.

"Fio! Don't cause any trouble!"

Just as Mio called out, a tremendous cheer erupted from the seventy thousand-strong crowd, shaking the very air.

It was like an earthquake. The thunderous roar of the crowd was directed straight at Nina Viento, who had just stepped onto the stage. From where Mio stood, Nina was barely visible, a tiny figure amidst the sea of people.

"Nina! Do your best!"

Though her voice couldn’t possibly reach, Mio shouted with all her might, waving her hand. Nina, dressed in her pure white outfit, walked gingerly toward the microphone in the centre of the stage.

Mio clasped her hands in front of her chest, praying for Nina’s success.

All the hard work, both mental and physical, that Nina had put in night after night would now be put to the test...

As she stood before the thunderous applause of the crowd, Nina Viento—felt a strange sense of calm. Since childhood, she had been trained to speak in public as a political tool, so public speeches held little tension for her.

When she stepped up to the microphone, the cheers died down, and seventy thousand pairs of eyes turned toward her.

The content of her speech was nothing more than the script prepared by Pope Illustriali. All she had to do was recite it. The text was designed to undermine Demistri’s authority while promoting her own legitimacy. All Nina had to do was read the words aloud. It was a speech written by others, unrelated to her personal will, meant solely to secure the Urano throne.

In other words, it was a lie.

But Nina had already accepted that this was her path.

Even if she had to embrace the will of others, she would carve out her own future.

She stepped up to the microphone and began her speech.

"First, I would like to express my gratitude to Saint Aldista."

As her voice echoed from the speakers, the crowd once again erupted into a deafening roar that shook the ground beneath her feet.

"I am Nina Viento. By the fate decreed to me, I have been sent here from the distant lands beyond the holy springs, to this great city of Pleiades. To the chosen citizens of this magnificent city, there is a truth I must share with you."

Her calm tone silenced the roaring crowd almost instantly, like a wind clearing the clouds.

Nina recited the script written by the Pope.

"I am the only child of Saint Aldista. I inherited the powers born from the wind and descended upon this world. Some of you may believe that because I am not of Urano, I am unfit to claim the throne. In a sense, you are correct. I am neither Urano nor a citizen of the land. I am a descendant of Saint Aldista, sent to govern this great city, just as Ulysses, the first King of Urano, was chosen before me."

Her bold words left the crowd in stunned silence.

This girl, a foreigner from the edge of the world, had just declared herself to be of divine blood, the same as the legendary Ulysses, and therefore justified in claiming the throne. Few in the audience smiled with joy; most looked displeased or shocked by Nina's audacity.

But Nina was unfazed.

"I know that many false prophets throughout history have falsely claimed to be of divine descent, only to be exposed and cast down. And I know that many of you might think I am one of them. I won’t waste a thousand words here today. Instead, I will show you a miracle."

The crowd began to murmur.

"As you all know, Saint Aldista was born of the wind. Even now, the wind carries the will of the gods into this world. Remember, the swirling of the wind is the voice of the divine."

With those words, Nina closed her eyes.

She called out to the wind in her heart.

──Wind, this will be the last time.

She raised her right hand slowly above her head.

──You’ve helped me so many times.

With her fingers extended toward the sky, she felt a familiar sensation flow through her fingertips, down her wrist, and into her chest.

──Thank you, kind wind.

Nina opened her eyes and gazed up at the clear blue winter sky.

──Let’s dance.

Nina focused her gaze on the crowd, slowly lowering her right arm, pointing at the seventy thousand people before her.

"Wind, heed my call."

Her voice, amplified through the microphone, echoed across the plaza.

In that instant, the atmosphere howled, shaking the heavens.

──Let us sing.

"Deliver the blessed sound."

──This is our last song together.

In an instant, flower petals swirled in the sky above the plaza.

The crowd murmured in awe. As the sound of the wind rushed by, it was as if a river of flowers had been painted across the blue sky. The colourful petals—red, blue, yellow, purple—swirled overhead, carried by the wind. The spectators, realizing that the wind was controlling the petals, huddled closer together, bracing against what they thought would be a gust. Then, they noticed something strange.

There was no wind on the ground!

The whirlwind was lifting the petals only in the air, several meters above the ground, avoiding the people entirely!

"What is this!?" "The wind is blowing only up there!" "It’s Nina! Nina is controlling the wind!"

As the confused crowd looked up at the swirling petals, Nina spoke to them.

"This wind is the will of Saint Aldista. It will not harm you. Bear witness and spread the word of this miracle to those not present here today."

Nina then raised her right arm.

The wind intensified, dividing the river of petals into two streams, which then merged again at a higher altitude, forming a vibrant, flowing ring in the sky. Realizing that Nina Viento was controlling the wind, the crowd began to cheer. Some knelt in reverence, others prostrated themselves in prayer, overcome by the sight of the miracle they were witnessing.

Nina, maintaining her composure, recited the grandiose lines written by Illustriali while inwardly singing with the wind.

Though her body remained on the stage, her heart had become one with the wind, sweeping across the plaza.

She spotted the servants holding the baskets of petals, directing the wind to lift the flowers and weave even more vivid trails in the winter sky. As time passed, the cheers grew louder, and some even wept as they praised Nina.

As the wind, Nina spotted Mio at the edge of the plaza, holding her basket of flowers.

Mio, with a bright smile on her face, was enthusiastically waving and cheering for Nina.

"Nina, you're amazing! You’re calling the wind!"

Seeing Mio’s joy at her success filled Nina with an overwhelming sense of happiness, bringing her close to tears.

She knew that Mio had been sent by Zenon as a spy. Every piece of information from the Lamia Palace likely reached Zenon's ears through her. Yet, here was Mio, sincerely cheering for Nina, even when no one else was watching. Despite their roles and allegiances, Mio genuinely wanted Nina to succeed, and that made Nina incredibly happy.

──Thank you, Mio.

The wind, now Nina herself, swirled around Mio, sweeping the petals from her basket.

Mio's face lit up with joy and surprise as the wind playfully brushed her cheek before carrying the petals into the air, adding more colour to the swirling patterns in the sky.

The applause from the crowd, gazing at the magical display above them, showed no sign of stopping.

Amid the cheers, Nina was exchanging her final words with the wind.

She could feel it—this connection, this power was slipping away. The song of the wind, which had once been so familiar to her as a child, was gradually fading.

Thinking back, it was this power that had shaped her strange and tragic destiny.

As a child, persecuted as a witch, her mother had chosen to sell Nina over her brother. Nina believed that her mother had abandoned her because of this wind-calling power, and she grew to resent it. She was later used by revolutionaries to bring down the La Hire family, throwing the fates of countless people into chaos. Unable to bear the weight of her actions, Nina spent several years of her youth with a broken mind.

But everything changed after she was exiled from the Republic of Balesteros on Isla.

She met wonderful friends. They helped her heal her heart, and during the battle with Urano, she wished to reclaim her wind-calling power to save her fallen comrades. The wind answered her call, saving Isla from destruction.

And then there was him.

──Kal-el.

Karl La Hire, the last prince Nina had once stripped of everything, now known as Kal-el Albus.

Though he had every reason to hate her, he had accepted Nina, and now, he was leading a massive fleet toward Pleiades, all to bring her back.

──We’ll meet again, won’t we?

But the journey of the Isla fleet was fraught with danger. Urano's influence far exceeded Kal-el’s expectations, and without intervention, the fleet faced certain annihilation.

──I have so much I want to tell you.

──I want to know more about you.

That was why Nina had decided to become the Queen of Urano.

──I want to stay by your side forever.

If she became queen, she could prevent a war with the Isla fleet and resolve the conflict peacefully.

For that reason, she would claim to be divine, deceive the world itself.

──Wind, lend your power to my lie.

──Grant me the strength to forge a future.

──The power to change the world.

Nina prayed to the wind, no longer resenting it. She was grateful for the power that had brought her to this moment.

Guiding the colourful petals, Nina wove a tapestry of wind into the sky.

At that moment, she spotted a white bird soaring through the air.

──Fio.

Mio’s mysterious pet bird.

Nina decided on the spot to make Fio part of the spectacle.

──Fio, let’s dance.

The wind, now Nina herself, flowed beside Fio, speaking to it.

She heard a soft chirp in reply. Fio, it seemed, had come to cheer for Nina as well. Smiling, Nina unravelled the ring of petals, transforming it into a flowing stream, placing Fio at its head.

A loud cheer rose from the crowd.

The white bird flying across the sky left a trail of colourful petals in its wake.

As Fio glided freely, the stream of petals followed its path, as if the bird were cutting through the sky and creating a rainbow of flower petals in its wake.

Nina addressed the crowd through the microphone.

"Saint Aldista journeyed with a white bird as their companion. Perhaps this bird flying in the sky today is also the will of Saint Aldista."

This was an unscripted addition from Nina, but judging by the crowd’s reaction, it was an effective one. She was recreating a scene from Urano's mythology right before their eyes.

Nina extended her right hand, calling to Fio.

"Come, messenger of the gods. Who shall be the next king?"

──Fio, come to me.

Trailing petals behind it, Fio responded to Nina’s will, descending in a straight line to land gracefully on the back of her hand.

Nina stood tall, continuing her performance with poise.

"Thank you for your judgment, Saint Aldista."

Declaring herself the chosen heir to the throne, Nina's words were met with the loudest cheer of the day. The crowd’s shouts of praise for Nina Viento surged forward, pressing down on Nina like a physical force.

Countess Ulshyrra’s planted agents among the crowd seized the moment, raising their voices above the others.

"A miracle! It’s a miracle!" "Saint Aldista has chosen Nina Viento!" "The next king is Nina! Our king must be one of divine descent!"

The name "Nina Viento" spread like wildfire, passing from one mouth to another, until the entire crowd of seventy thousand was chanting it in unison, their voices rippling across the sky.

──Thank you, Fio.

Nina smiled at the bird perched on her hand, then released it into the air.

With one final burst of strength, she summoned a gust of wind, sending it skyward.

The petals caught the wind, following Fio as they soared higher and higher, scattering in all directions.

──Goodbye, wind.

As she watched the drifting petals, Nina bid farewell to the wind.

The song of the wind would no longer reach her.

──Thank you for everything.

Amidst the endless cheers, Nina lifted the hem of her dress, stepped back gracefully, and turned away from the crowd.

Even as she descended the stage, the chants of Nina’s name continued to echo through the plaza. Returning inside the cathedral, she was met by Countess Ulshyrra, who caught her just as she began to stumble.

"My lady."

Ulshyrra hurried to support Nina, who leaned against her and managed a faint smile.

"It’s over. I can’t call the wind anymore."

Ulshyrra, her expression as stoic as ever, replied in her usual emotionless tone.

"It was splendid. The matter is settled."

Supporting Nina, Ulshyrra’s glasses gleamed as she spoke.

"You will be the Queen of Urano."

Despite Ulshyrra’s words, the reality hadn’t quite sunk in for Nina. But the roaring cheers from the plaza told her that the speech had been a great success.

"However, the real test begins now. Though we come from the land below, we must now step into the heart of a sky-dwelling world filled with beasts and demons…"

As she gazed toward the distant Urano palace, Ulshyrra's words carried a foreboding tone.

As the citizens of Pleiades indulged in their raucous fervour, the man could only feel disgust welling up within him.

These commoners, devoid of any true conviction or thought, leapt at anything that amused them, now completely beguiled by the spectacle that Nina Viento had put on, fully intent on making her their queen.

Dressed in disguise, with a wide-brimmed hat pulled low and a black coat wrapped around him, First Prince Demistri pushed his way through the cheering crowds, followed by a dozen or so similarly disguised guards. As they moved to the edge of the plaza, he cast a distorted look at his aide beside him.

"Foul commoners. Do they think they can choose a king through some street performance?"

"You are absolutely right, Your Highness," the aide agreed.

"That woman dares claim to be a god. It's beyond blasphemy. And they want to make her the ruler of the palace?"

Demistri bit his nails in frustration, his eyes narrowing at the now-empty stage where Nina had stood moments ago, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"We must remove her. Physically."

At the prince's inflammatory words, his aide’s face darkened. The aide cleared his throat, gently cautioning him.

"If you act now, the blame will fall on you, Your Highness."

“...”

"If she enters the palace, she’ll be surrounded by your supporters. There are countless ways to squeeze her politically. Even these citizens, who are supporting her now, will change their tune with just one or two incidents. We must wait for the right time."

Demistri’s eyes burned with hatred as he glared at his aide.

"Must I endure this humiliation any longer?"

"The most important thing right now is patience, Your Highness."

"Renjaku."

Ignoring his aide’s advice, Demistri called out to the tall young man standing behind him.

Renjaku, the second-in-command of the Patriotic Order, responded promptly.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Could you kill Nina?"

Renjaku, without changing his expression, answered immediately.

"If that is your command, I will do so at once."

"Your Highness..." The aide furrowed his brow in disapproval.

Demistri sneered, turning his venomous gaze on the aide.

"Why must I endure this? I am the king’s eldest son. The rightful heir. Why should everything be taken away from me by some woman who suddenly appeared?"

The depth of Demistri’s hatred was enough to even make his aide recoil.

"Simply killing her isn't enough. I want to disgrace her with my own hands and throw her into the slums."

Uttering curses unbecoming of royalty, Demistri’s eyes filled with twisted malice as he clenched his fists.

"Wait for the right time, Your Highness. Once it comes, Nina can be dealt with however you wish. She will be at your mercy..."

"I’ll strip her of that ridiculous costume, hang her naked, and lash her. No matter how much she cries or begs for mercy, I won’t stop. I’ll lock her in a cage, collar her like a dog, and train her to follow my every command."

"Yes, yes, whatever pleases Your Highness..."

As Demistri indulged in his crude fantasies and the aide continued to soothe him, Renjaku allowed the faintest glimmer of mockery to flicker in his gaze, unnoticed by the others.

He was well aware that Hachidori was guarding Nina. However, to Renjaku, Hachidori posed no challenge. His earlier response had been entirely truthful—if Demistri ordered it, he could infiltrate the cathedral immediately and snap Nina’s neck without anyone noticing.

──If you hate her that much, just give the order already.

Renjaku suppressed the unspoken thought, letting it drift deep within him.

──What a stifling existence, being a royal.

Watching Demistri and his aide's exchange with faint amusement, Renjaku kept his true thoughts hidden behind an emotionless facade, his gaze turning toward the distant cathedral.

──If it's Hachidori, it’ll be easy.

──I’ll make him cry again...

Recalling Hachidori's tear-streaked face from their childhood, Renjaku barely held back a laugh. He maintained a composed demeanour as he continued to listen to Demistri’s vile desires being voiced one after another.

──May your foolish dreams come true, you pathetic prince.

While inwardly ridiculing his so-called master, Renjaku dreamed of the day when he would finally kill Hachidori with his own hands.