Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:Part12

Part 8 (Part 12 of Volume 1)

Ridiculous…

Inwardly, Hachidori sighed as he stood silently on the stage with his comrades, enduring the barrage of camera flashes and glaring at the nearly thousand officer cadets lined up below.

Beneath the bright blue autumn sky, the flags of the St Vault Empire, the navy, and the Air Hunt Officer Academy fluttered in the breeze. They had just been welcomed by the academy’s band, received a thunderous round of applause, and were awarded the Crimea-Sidra Silver Medal by the St Vault High Command. It was the first time in the history of the St Vault Imperial Army that officer cadets had been decorated, a testament to the extraordinary feat the seven of them had accomplished.

But Hachidori remained unmoved, even though his face did not show it.

To him, it hadn’t been a difficult journey at all. Rather, it was the other six students who had been a burden. Twice, he had secretly helped them without being detected, though the more perceptive among them had likely sensed something was off.

The first time was when they were attacked by the heavy bomber. It had been so persistent that he had grown annoyed and sniped the enemy pilot.

The second time was during the night water landing. Seeing that Kiyoaki was misreading the wind, Hachidori had knocked over the communications equipment to shift the center of gravity.

Had he not intervened, they would all have died. Yet, the other six now wore expressions of joy, as if they had accomplished the mission entirely on their own. It made him feel almost nauseous.

Out of a hundred comrades, only eight had survived the brutal five-year training that had begun when they were seven years old. The difference in ability between him and the other cadets was too vast. However, if he revealed his full potential, it would only invite unnecessary suspicion, so he chose to hold back just enough to appear "above average."

—What a hassle.

He thought this to himself as he kept his expression neutral and listened in silence to the overly long speech of the academy’s headmaster.

Joseph Bartholmüller, headmaster of the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

At fifty-seven years old, the silver-haired gentleman was thrilled to deliver this speech.

After all, the seven officer cadets—three from the Akitsu Federation and four from St Vault—had accomplished a nearly impossible feat thanks to what Joseph liked to call "the miracle of personnel selection."

It was as if he were boasting of his own achievements as he addressed the crowd of reporters, the entire student body, and the seven cadets on the stage.

"The two aces who once ruled the skies over the Archipelago—the captain, Karsten Kreischmidt, and the flight chief, Sakagami Masaharu—this grand feat was achieved by their children. Both legendary aces happened to have children born in the same era, honing their skills in St Vault and the Akitsu Federation. When I learned of this, I orchestrated for them to fly the same airship. By sharing

the same controls, these two nations, separated by the archipelago, would strengthen their bonds of friendship. This decision, which led to the miracle, is proof of how an individual's choices can shape the course of history…"

He spoke with self-satisfaction, oblivious to the awkward silence that followed. But Joseph didn’t mind. It had only been thirty minutes since the speech began. The main part was yet to come.

The military command had instructed him to "promote this achievement grandly," even to the point of exaggeration. After all, while they had managed to spark conflict with Urano, the goodwill fleet’s destruction in the first battle was a nightmare. To boost morale among the empire’s citizens, the seven cadets were the easiest tool to use.

Determined to fulfill this task, Joseph continued speaking, veering off into unrelated topics about world affairs, his philosophy of life, and his predictions for the archipelago's future.

“The current world is in turmoil. Yesterday’s friend may become today’s enemy, and tomorrow, they might be friends again. In such an unpredictable and cruel world, you will have to live. The Eriadore carried two students from the Akitsu Federation—Kiyoaki Sakagami and Kagura Murasaki. They will study here, graduate, and eventually serve as lieutenants in the Akitsu Federation military. Of course, we hope for eternal friendship between our nations, but given the state of the world, inter-national friendships are not guaranteed to last."

Joseph paused to take a sip of water, then continued.

"If, by misfortune, war breaks out between the Akitsu Federation and the St Vault Empire, I expect the graduates of the Air Hunt Officer Academy to fight with all their might. Even if it means killing each other, you must respect your opponent and fight without hatred. This is the path of soldiers in service to their nation. Although I don’t wish for such a fate, in today’s world, it’s hard to predict what might happen tomorrow. And in such a brutal world, this is the profession you all aspire to.”

Just as Joseph put extra force into his words, one of the seven cadets on stage collapsed with a loud thud.

The audience screamed in shock. Photographers, delighted by the incident, immediately showered the fallen student with flashes from their cameras.

Mio Syira, leaning on crutches, had fainted from what appeared to be anemia, lying motionless on the stage. It seemed her body hadn’t fully recovered yet.

Even though the speech had only been going for an hour, Joseph was forced to cut it short at fifty-two minutes, frustrated that one of the main figures had collapsed.

“Mio! Are you alright!?”

Kiyoaki rushed to help her up, and the stage descended into chaos, bringing an abrupt end to the headmaster’s speech.

After the long special ceremony ended, the seven cadets, now free from the stage, stretched and gathered in the academy’s courtyard. Mio’s fainting had only been a minor incident, and she was now back with the group, leaning on her crutches and pouting.

“That headmaster talks way too much! And what was that about us having to fight each other someday? Ugh, it made me feel sick.”

The autumn sun beat down on them. A little over a month had passed, and Mio’s wounds were almost completely healed. In about a week, she’d be able to get

around without the crutches.

“I’m glad it ended. The headmaster could have gone on for another hour at that pace.”

“Mio, are you really okay? Do you need to rest back at the dorm?”

“Stop worrying so much. I’m fine. Besides, we have that interview with the newspaper, right? And then the banquet with the navy big shots… It’s kind of a hassle, but it’s a bit fun too.”

Mio smiled at Kiyoaki with a carefree expression, and he smiled back warmly. From the side, Cecil poked her mischievous face into the conversation. “But wasn’t that speech terrible? Talking about how St Vault and the Akitsu Federation might fight? Like, that’s not going to happen.”

From next to her, Illia spoke up seriously.

“…We can’t say that for sure. Just before the Archipelago War twenty years ago, St Vault and the Akitsu Federation were allies. But suddenly, they went to war. Things aren’t much different now.”

“Eh—no way! Illia, why would you say that? You mean I might have to fight Aki- chan and Kagura-san? That’s awful…”

Cecil’s expression darkened. Kiyoaki had somehow been turned into “Aki-chan” without his knowledge. Mio waved her hand in front of her face dismissively.

“No, no, that’s not going to happen. No way.” “Yeah, we’ll always be friends.” Kiyoaki reassured her, but before he could continue, Kagura approached, dragging Balthazar along by the arm with a mischievous grin.

“Hey, let go, Kagura! I have no intention of fraternizing with—" “Quiet, come on. Everyone gather around!” “Stop it! I don’t care about you all…!”

“Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s form a circle. I’ve got something to say.”

Ignoring Balthazar’s protests, Kagura pulled the seven of them into a circle, each with their arms around the others' backs.

Kagura addressed them all.

“After listening to the headmaster’s speech, I realized… it’s possible. We’re living in a cruel time. When we graduate, we’ll be in key positions in the militaries of different countries. We might end up fighting each other. So…”

She smiled gently at the tearful Cecil.

“If we ever meet on the battlefield, we should fight with honor. Let’s make a vow, right here, the seven of us.”

In a calm, steady voice, Kagura closed her eyes and spoke the words of the vow.

"Even if we end up on opposite sides as enemies, we will never hate each other. Our friendship is eternal."

Without knowing what this vow would bring to the world.

"Can you all swear to this?" Kagura smiled as she extended the back of her right hand to the center of the circle.

Kiyoaki placed his hand over hers, followed by Illia. Mio, with a sad expression, reluctantly added her hand. Reiner, also with a reluctant look, and Balthazar, snorting coldly, placed their hands on top, and finally, a tearful Cecil placed their hand last.

"Even if we become enemies, we will not hate each other."

The vow, repeated by the seven of them, was carved into the depths of their hearts.

"Our friendship is eternal."

They couldn't know how this naïve promise would one day cut into their hearts and make them bleed.

"We’ve made a promise. If anyone breaks it, they’ll be a disgrace to the officer candidates. They won’t be considered a comrade anymore, so keep that in mind."

Kagura said this, clearly enjoying the moment.

Eventually, the vow they made in the courtyard of the Air Hunt Officer Academy, one that would cross the Mitterland continent, the Archipelago, beyond the great waterfalls and the Holy Springs, and involve countless unknown nations, would quietly bring about a transformation of the world.

Ridiculous…

Having completed all the day’s events, lying on the bed in the dorm, Hachidori sighed yet again.

Interviews were conducted. Medals were awarded. He had to endure the headmaster's long speech and was even roped into making a childish promise.

What am I doing?

Even though he had no choice but to hide his true self, having to go along with such student-like antics was exhausting, both mentally and physically. Pretending to be an ordinary person was proving more draining than he expected.

He wanted to graduate as soon as possible, infiltrate the core of the St Vault military, and carry out the grand mission that would heal his mother’s wounded heart.

He repeated this usual resolve to himself. Whenever he grew weary, he remembered his goal, driving himself forward. There was still a long way to go. Complaining at this stage wouldn’t help.

Then, unexpectedly, a warm feeling flowed through his chest.

It was a pleasant sensation, accompanied by a distant sense of nostalgia.

In the darkness, Hachidori looked at his palm. It seemed as though the warmth was coming from there.

It reminded him of the seven hands that had come together earlier that day. The memory of that warmth still lingered.

Ridiculous.

He tried to dismiss it. He didn’t have such human feelings left. During his training as a special operative, he had stripped away all ordinary emotions. He shouldn’t have even a trace of humanity left.

And yet.

A strange feeling was bubbling up from the depths of his soul like a spring, and it was strangely comforting to immerse himself in it.

He could tell that something inside him was becoming misaligned.

Clicking his tongue, he pulled the blanket over himself. The warmth didn’t fade. "Even if we end up on opposite sides, we won’t hate each other…" Hachidori muttered the vow to himself, curled up under the blanket. The indescribable emotion seemed to stem from that vow. "…Friendship… is eternal." Muttering the words, the warmth became almost unbearably comforting, making Hachidori’s face relax into a smile.

What friendship? Ridiculous. My job is to betray them someday.

He snapped back to reality, reminding himself of his mission, pulling the blanket over his head tightly, and shutting his eyes.

What is happening to me?

In the dead of night, lying alone in the dorm bed in her nightclothes, Illia lay awake, unable to sleep.

This had been happening for some time now. Despite being exhausted from the day’s studies and training, she couldn’t fall asleep easily. Every day, she experienced unfamiliar symptoms that were only getting worse.

"Mmm…"

A strange groan escaped her lips, and she pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, tossing and turning. She knew she had grueling tasks awaiting her tomorrow, and she wanted to fall asleep quickly, but she couldn’t control her thoughts. Thoughts she didn’t want to dwell on floated up and clung to her mind.

Giving up, Illia sat up.

Mio’s gentle breathing could be heard from the top bunk. Being careful not to wake her, Illia walked over to the window.

She gazed at her reflection in the window glass, then gave herself a sharp slap on the cheeks and widened her eyes.

It’s the same old me. I haven’t changed. I shouldn’t have.

…But somehow, I look… like a woman.

Of course, she was a woman, but this was perhaps the first time she had ever looked at herself that way.

I will become the ace of the Archipelago. I will take the skies in place of my father, who can no longer fly.

That is my destiny.

Since childhood, she had been familiar with aircraft, and her daily life had revolved around mastering the skills to pilot them. That would never change. She would graduate at the top of her class from the Air Hunt Officer Academy, join the military, and rise to become an ace pilot, surpassing all others. This was the mission her father, Karsten, had entrusted to her.

She had never questioned this way of life. Illia Kreischmidt existed solely for this purpose. With unwavering resolve, she would walk the path to becoming an ace. That determination was always with her.

Yet.

Why is my heart pounding?

Her heart was racing. Warm blood surged through her body, filling every cell with a sense of happiness, pain, and an uncontrollable intensity.

It hurts, but it feels so… good.

Illia’s expression twisted in a mix of pain and longing.

She already knew the source of this incomprehensible feeling. Kiyoaki. For some reason, Kiyoaki Sakagami had taken up residence in her thoughts.

As she looked at her reflection in the window glass, what she was thinking about was what Kiyoaki might be doing right now.

Am I an idiot?

She said it out loud, chastising herself. Of course he’s sleeping, what else? Why can’t I stop thinking about him? She tried to figure out why but couldn’t.

Why am I thinking about him and not about flying? It made no sense. That guy… He’s the son of the man who used cowardly tactics to do this to my father.

Her father, Karsten, had lost an arm, could no longer fly, and had succumbed to alcoholism. Her mother, unable to bear it, had left their home. The man who had destroyed Illia’s family was Kiyoaki’s father, Masaharu Sakagami. He had used underhanded tactics to trick her father and defeat him—her father’s most hated enemy.

That’s right. I hate him.

More than anyone, I hate him. That’s why he’s stuck in my head. This feeling must be hatred, transformed into something else. Forcing herself to reach a conclusion, Illia convinced herself.

She pulled the curtains closed and returned to bed. Her heart was still pounding, and the image of Kiyoaki's face, along with the warmth of his hand, kept resurfacing in her mind. But she convinced herself that it was all because of her hatred.

Eventually, she drifted off to sleep and began to dream.

In the dream, she was flying a turboprop fighter, tears streaming down her face as she shot down Kiyoaki.

She woke abruptly, her eyes snapping open. Pressing a hand against her racing heart, she bit her lip hard and stared into the darkness.

Her heart was beating fast. A sense of foreboding filled her entire being. She knew something cruel awaited her down this path. And for some reason, the words of the vow slipped from her lips, unbidden. "Even if we become enemies, we will not hate each other…" She didn’t know why that phrase had surfaced in her mind at this moment, but as if trying to calm herself, Illia recited the final part of the vow.

"Friendship… is eternal…"