Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:Part2

Part 2

In June of the Empire Year 1342, in Urano's capital, Pleiades—

The codename given by Urano's secret intelligence agency was “Hachidori.”

The departure was set for 18:00 today. From the Filtra Port on the right bank of the airborne city Pleiades, Hachidori would board a passenger ship and descend to the ground, passing through Harmonia, and three days later, enter St Vault. In St Vault, Urano's intelligence agents would be waiting to provide Hachidori with a fake family and identity papers necessary to live there. From there, Hachidori would spend three years blending into student life without drawing attention, and in the spring of their fifteenth year, enroll in a military academy as a St Vault citizen. Once inside the upper echelons of the military, Hachidori’s mission was to leak all classified information to Urano... This was the role assigned to Hachidori’s life. The necessary training had already been completed. Hachidori’s path was vastly different from that of an ordinary twelve-year-old. They had gritted their teeth and endured training where it was not uncommon for people to die. When Hachidori had entered the intelligence officer training facility at the age of seven, there had been one hundred companions. One by one, they died, and by five years later, only eight remained. Complete fluency in three languages, infiltration and escape techniques, shooting and combat skills, explosives and demolition training, wiretapping techniques, cold and heat resistance training, torture endurance training, cryptography, jungle survival skills, dancing, gambling, table manners, long marches through the snow, airship piloting, and more. Hachidori had mastered every challenge and, at just twelve years old, was far superior in both body and mind to any regular soldier.

Now, a long period of undercover work in a foreign country was about to begin.

It would likely be a lonely journey, where they could show their true self to no one. But Hachidori had already steeled themselves for that harsh path.

There was still time before departure. Hachidori obtained permission from the intelligence agency to visit their family one last time.

Leaving the secret intelligence bureau, disguised as a public benefit organization on the second floor of an ordinary commercial building, Hachidori took a bus toward their family home.

Outside the window, the magnificent cityscape of the airborne city Pleiades stretched on.

Constantly hovering at an altitude of 2,000 meters, Pleiades spanned 55 kilometers in length, 24 kilometers in width, and had a perimeter of about 220 kilometers. On its vast surface were military facilities, including airfields, naval bases, and anti-aircraft batteries, as well as a royal palace, administrative districts, commercial zones, entertainment districts, residential areas, main roads connecting them, seawater desalination plants, water and sewage systems, electricity, and communication infrastructure — a "flying fortress city." It was fitting to call it the "King of Airborne Cities," as it oversaw the twelve air fortresses owned by Urano.

Many of the five million citizens living in this city engaged in trade with the land below, gaining wealth. Pleiades circled the Mitterrand and Westerland continents, as well as the Hydrabard Archipelago, profiting from trade simply by existing. By following a route that leapfrogged between islands producing rare resources, Pleiades could move with military air power, ensuring safety, and since the city itself traveled, transportation costs that would typically increase with distance were reduced. With each cycle, immense wealth flowed into Pleiades. The people passing by outside were dressed richly, and the vibrant streets matched the description of a paradise in the sky.

Hachidori simply gazed out the lively window. The smiles of the people passing by felt distant and dazzling to Hachidori. The citizens' ordinary daily lives appeared to Hachidori like a dream world, separated by a thick pane of glass.

For at least the next ten years, Hachidori would likely not return to this city. Hachidori briefly thought about the life that would begin tomorrow in the ground city.

The most important thing was not being discovered as an Urano citizen. There were several things to be mindful of, but the most fundamental issue was related to "names."

The people of the land called Urano citizens the “Sky Clan” and feared them. The name supposedly originated from the “Genesis” version of the Ardista Orthodox Church, but here in Pleiades, no one used that name for themselves. The so- called “Ardista Church,” which worshiped Saint Ardista as the chief god, had splintered into thousands of factions that fought amongst each other. The version worshipped by Urano, the "Unified Ardista Church," referred to them as "Urano Basileus." The term "Sky Clan" was used by the ignorant land-dwellers who worshipped heretical sects and, if used among Urano citizens, was considered an insult.

After about ten minutes, Hachidori got off the bus at a stop on the outskirts of a residential area and entered a rundown alleyway. The noisy bustle of the main street faded away, and Hachidori walked down a narrow, wet street with few people passing by, stopping in front of a shabby house with peeling plaster and holes in the stone walls.

Though Pleiades had reached the height of its prosperity, the brighter the light, the darker the shadows. As prosperity continued, the population grew, and the limited surface area of Pleiades was bought by the wealthy, forcing the downtrodden to form slums on the outskirts of the city, relying on whatever scraps they could get. The rundown houses were densely packed together, with half-naked, dirty children and wet stray dogs wandering around, and garbage from

the homes piled up in the gutters. This was a high-crime area, abandoned by the authorities — and Hachidori's home was in one of its corners.

The lock on the entrance had long since been broken, so it was useless. Since it was obvious there was nothing of value inside, there was no need to lock the door. Hachidori opened the poorly-fitted door and looked around the dimly lit house.

No one was there. The only pieces of furniture were a worn-out armchair and a tilted desk. The smell of soot from coal hung in the air, and footprints were left in the dust that had accumulated on the floor.

Hachidori climbed the narrow stairs to the second floor.

The curtains were drawn tightly, making the room dark. Everything that could be sold, including the lighting fixtures, had been sold off. All that remained was a soot-covered bed and a single wooden chair.

Hachidori's mother sat on the chair, wearing a faded blue nightgown, staring at an old photograph.

“You move the spoon from front to back.”

A faint murmur slipped from the corner of her mouth.

“When you're finished eating, you point the knife’s blade toward yourself.” “Mother.” Hachidori called out.

“Straighten your back. You’re folding the napkin wrong. You need to fold the edges like this.”

She only spoke to the photograph, not acknowledging Hachidori.

Hachidori opened the curtains. The clear February sunlight washed deeply into the room.

“Ah!”

Noticing Hachidori’s presence, the mother twisted her body, clutching the photo to her chest protectively.

“Get out…!! Who are you? Get out!!”

With a low, raspy voice, she screamed without even looking at Hachidori.

Through five years of training, Hachidori had learned to suppress emotions. It was emotions, fueled by a desire to protect one's pride, that led to turmoil. If you could abandon any sense of self-worth, no words thrown at you could cause sadness.

And yet.

“I’m still inexperienced as an intelligence officer.”

With a distorted expression, Hachidori bowed low to the floor. “I came to say goodbye, Mother.” “Go away…!! Get out…!! I won’t let them touch this child; I won’t let them have him!!”

She clutched the photo to her chest. The picture was of Hachidori when he was five. In his mother’s twisted mind, Hachidori was forever five years old.

“The next time we meet will likely be more than ten years from now. But I will return. Please stay well until then.”

His mother let out a low, animalistic growl, and threw a small block toy at Hachidori’s bowed head.

“Take the house!! Kill the husband if you want!! But you will never have this child, this child is mine, I won’t let you take him!!”

Blood trickled down Hachidori’s forehead as he raised his head. His mother’s face, pale and emaciated, withered lips and cheeks, was marked by two eyes red with hatred.

Seven years ago.

The mother in his memory had been beautiful.

They had lived in a luxurious mansion in Pleiades, with rare flowers and animals playing in their grand garden, and once a month, they hosted elegant parties with well-dressed gentlemen and ladies. Young Hachidori had loved holding his mother’s hand and being doted on by the endless stream of guests who came to greet them.

His father had been the Chancellor of the Ministry of the Interior in Urano’s royal court. As head of the legislative body that formalized the Emperor’s will into law, he had wielded power second only to the Emperor and effectively managed the governance of Urano.

However, despite his high position, his father had been too virtuous. He had devoted his passion to making Urano’s political and economic circles as clear and pure as a mountain stream. The fish in the river rejoiced, but fish who couldn’t adapt to such clear water disliked him. In this world, there are fish that can only survive in polluted water, and they formed a group to restore the flow back to a murky river in order to survive.

One day, his father was arrested for treason. A court chef who had attempted to assassinate the Emperor had named him as the mastermind. Furthermore, multiple high-ranking officials secretly reported plans for the Emperor's assassination with his father's name attached to them, and the nobles who infested the court whispered dark rumors about him to the Emperor’s ear.

A week after his father’s execution, Hachidori and his mother had drifted to this town. They had brought only a small amount of money and a few household items, which they crammed into this house, and they clung to each other to survive. It was a hand-to-mouth existence. Their clothes and furniture were soon sold for pennies, and Hachidori clung to his mother, crying in hunger.

Hachidori hadn’t understood how his mother obtained food. Each time his mother returned with food, his mind deteriorated further. It was about a year after they arrived in this town that Hachidori noticed his mother’s mental state had started to change. Clutching old photos, his mother had begun speaking only to the Hachidori of the past.

“I hope that someday you’ll see me as I’ve grown.”

While his mother hurled objects at him, twelve-year-old Hachidori gave his farewell.

“Go away!! Disappear!! If you come again, I’ll kill you, I swear I’ll kill you!!”

With his mother’s curses at his back, Hachidori descended the stairs and stepped out into the street. He looked up at the second floor, where his mother’s yelling continued from the darkened room.

Hachidori shed a few tears.

This would be the last time to cry, he thought. For at least the next ten years, he would not be able to show his true emotions. Just for now, he would allow himself to be honest about his pain. This was the last indulgence he would permit himself.

Hachidori had become an intelligence officer because the Urano Secret Intelligence Service promised to take care of his mother. As long as he fulfilled his duties, his mother would be kept alive. If this mission went well, he could rise within the ranks of the Urano Intelligence Agency. he could buy back the house that had been sold, purchase a dress for his mother, and have her see a doctor. If his mother’s wounded heart healed, perhaps she would once again recognize Hachidori as her son.

He wanted his mother to remember him.

This was the journey he was about to begin.

Wiping away his tears with his arm, Hachidori looked up at the clear, unblemished sky.

From now on, he would abandon everything unnecessary for his mission. His pride as a human being, his emotions, his concern for others—all would be left behind in this forsaken town.

“Let’s go.”

On a journey where he would betray everyone he met. “I will return, Mother.” And may the day come when you will once again call my name with kindness.