Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V9Part2

Part 20 (Part 2 of Volume 9)

"Cowering in the darkness will only make things worse.

You must reach out to the single ray of light piercing the dark, wedge your hands into the cracks in the wall, and push them wider, or your view will never clear.

It takes courage to act. Hope lies beyond that."

That was the conviction that brought her to this point.

“Good morning. It’s a beautiful day today.”

Mio Syira smiled at the elderly woman with white hair, sitting up in bed, as she opened the curtains and let the early morning light flood the hospital room.

“…”

The room’s occupant, Natasha Belour, didn’t nod or respond to Mio’s words. She merely held her cup of tea in both hands, her empty gaze directed out the window.

Natasha resembled a withered old tree, and just over two and a half months ago, when Mio first started visiting the hospital to care for her, she had resisted violently. She had hurled insults at Mio that she had never heard before, thrown things, and spat out the medicine Mio had tried to give her. On the first day, Mio could only stay in the room for three minutes. On the second day, two minutes. By the third day, just one minute. But Mio persisted, walking daily through the slums from the Hedwig Tavern, where she was hiding, to this sanatorium on the slopes of the Petra Mountains.

At this point, she knew there was no other way to keep hope alive. She had accepted the risk of being discovered by Zenon. Though Mio was in hiding, she doubted a spy trainee like her would be hunted down, and even if there was danger, it was worth coming here. She told herself this, and no matter how much Natasha cursed or berated her, she didn’t give up. A month into her visits, Natasha seemed to have either given up herself or mistaken Mio for a new nurse, as she finally allowed Mio to take care of her.

“I’ll ventilate the room since the stove’s been on all night. It’ll be a little chilly, but please bear with it.”

Though there was no response, neither were there insults anymore. Of course, there were no proper replies either, but just being allowed to stay in the same room was already a significant improvement. Mio opened the window, letting fresh air replace the warm atmosphere heated by the wood stove. She took a deep breath of the mountain morning, preparing herself for the day ahead.

Year 1352 of the Imperial Calendar, January 4th, Pleiades, Petra Mountain Sanatorium in the Stefano District—

Two and a half months had passed since the “October Revolution,” when Mio had fled for her life from the Ulysses Palace. She and the injured Ignacio had hidden in the Hedwig Tavern in the Stefano District, and Mio had sent top-secret information about Pleiades with Fio to Kiyoaki. She could only believe that Fio had safely reached Kiyoaki by now, as she had no way of knowing for sure. Hiding and nursing Ignacio wasn’t going to change the situation, so Mio had gathered the courage to visit this sanatorium daily, waiting for the arrival of Hachidori.

For now, this was enough. By being here, someday, surely, Hachidori would come.

If she could meet him, perhaps she could learn something about Claire’s situation. According to newspaper reports, Claire was imprisoned as a political criminal in Ulysses Palace. However, rumours suggested she had been sheltered by nobles of the Mycenaean faction and was still on the run. The truth was unclear. Given Hachidori's position, he might know important secrets. At this point, Mio had no one else she could rely on in the capital of Pleiades.

Of course, this was a dangerous gamble.

—Hachidori is a subordinate of Zenon, a member of the S-Class Operatives, Patriotis.

—If I meet him here, I might be dragged back to Zenon…

In the current Pleiades, the former Queen Nina Viento’s servant had no status or home, no more than a wandering vagrant. Hachidori would gain nothing from helping someone like her. It would be much wiser to tie her up and deliver her to Zenon, earning his superior’s favour.

—But.

—Maybe, just maybe, Hachidori will help us out of sheer goodwill.

Mio couldn’t shake that thought. The first time she had encountered the Hachidori persona inside Reiner had been about four years ago, during their time at the Air Hunt Officer Academy in winter. After that, she had ended up in the capital of Pleiades, where he had become her instructor, training her to be a special agent at the Lamia Palace and Celestial Chamber. During this lengthy training, Mio had caught a glimpse, just once, of the lingering “humanity” within Hachidori.

"Mio! Damn it, what are you doing? Stop the bleeding and call for help!"

"Mio! Don’t give up! She’s not the kind of person to die from something like this!"

That time when Claire had invited Mio to sneak out to the New Year’s party, only for them to be attacked by an assassin. Hachidori had clasped Mio’s hand tightly as she lay gravely wounded, having shielded Claire. His expression, his words, the kindness in his grip—it had been unlike anything Mio had ever seen from the usual Hachidori. Nor had it felt like Reiner Beck.

Maybe, just maybe, that wasn’t Hachidori at all.

Mio thought this as she looked at a picture hanging on the wall of the hospital room. It was a photo of a well-dressed child.

Natasha Belour’s son, Thomas Belour.

Before Hachidori and Reiner Beck, before the split in personalities... this was the original personality.

The one who had grasped her hand that day and urged her to survive might have been...

“Was it you, Thomas?”

Mio spoke softly to the child in the photograph.

Perhaps, deep within the personas of Hachidori and Reiner Beck, Thomas Belour was still alive. Perhaps this person, driven to become a special agent in order to afford his mother’s treatment, pouring all his earnings into her medical expenses, was, in truth, a kind soul…

—If Thomas is still somewhere inside Hachidori, then maybe.

—Maybe he’ll help us.

Mio knew it was a faint hope.

But the mire she was sinking into was deep enough that she had no choice but to cling to such a fragile thread. If she stayed still, she would soon be completely swallowed by the mud, releasing a few empty bubbles before vanishing forever. She had to struggle, at least. She had to believe that Fio had reached Kiyoaki safely. She had to believe that Kiyoaki, after receiving her message, would come to Pleiades leading the strongest fighter squadron in the world—Valkyrie.

“I will never give up.”

Mio looked at Thomas’s picture as she reassured herself.

“Wait for me, Claire. I’ll make sure you’re reunited with Kal… no matter what…”

She didn’t know where or how her dear friend, Claire Cruz—formerly Queen Nina Viento of Urano—was right now. During the October Revolution, when enemy soldiers stormed the Celestial Chamber, Mio had taken on the role of decoy alongside Ignacio, drawing the attention of the enemy. Claire, meanwhile, had been forced to flee with the chamberlain, Countess Ulshyrra, through a different route. As they parted ways, Claire had said something unforgettable:

"Even if something happens to me, don’t seek revenge. Forget about me and live your life freely." "Mio, I’m returning the words you once gave me. Think of your own happiness. You deserve to be happy." "Your priority is to survive. Understood? That’s an order—survive."

Even though she was the Queen of Urano, Claire had spoken such kind, thoughtful words, even in the direst of situations, out of concern for Mio, a mere servant. Mio truly cherished her for that, and loved her deeply. She couldn’t imagine her own happiness without Claire’s. That’s why, no matter what, she wanted Claire to reunite with Kal-el and be happy. For that, Mio would do anything in her power, even resorting to the most underhanded methods if necessary. If Hachidori was angry about her secretly caring for his mother, so be it. She had to make contact with him, or nothing would change.

Just as she was telling herself this, the door to the hospital room suddenly opened.

“…”

The person she had been waiting for looked around the room, took in the situation at a glance, and instantly narrowed his eyes, filling the room with familiar hostility.

“Eek…!”

Natasha, terrified, quickly pulled the covers over her head.

Mio held her breath for a moment but then steeled herself.

The person she had been waiting for, for nearly two and a half months, closed the door behind him and focused his piercing gaze on Mio.

“It’s been a while, Hachidori.”

He didn’t respond, simply glaring at Mio while holding a bouquet of flowers to his chest.

“Are you mad because I did this without permission? I suppose that’s only natural. But I’m sorry, I didn’t have any other choice.”

“…”

“...Shall we go outside? You’re scaring your mother.”

Without a word, Hachidori shoved the bouquet into a vase and motioned toward the door with his chin. Mio nodded meekly and quietly followed him into the hallway.

Behind the sanatorium, there was a path for patients to walk. In the cold January air, there were no other people around. It was just Mio and Hachidori, walking together under the barren trees.

Hachidori remained silent, walking like a mechanical doll, step by step. Perhaps he planned to lead Mio deep into the mountains, far from the sanatorium, and kill her there. Mio was ready for that. She had made up her mind. She walked alongside him, through the frigid air, prepared for whatever might happen.

“I want to know where Claire is. That’s all I want.”

She didn’t hide her true purpose.

Hachidori said nothing.

“I know I’m bothering you. But I have no other options. So I pretended to be a relative and took care of your mother while waiting for you.”

The mountain air was so cold it felt like it would freeze her to the bone. Mio’s calm words turned to white mist and disappeared into the blue sky.

“I am your enemy.”

Hachidori finally spoke in a low voice. She already knew that.

“I know.”

“Director Zenon is looking for you.”

“Is that so? Then taking me in would be a huge accomplishment for you, wouldn’t it?”

Hachidori stopped in his tracks and turned to face Mio.

"Do you really think I won’t?"

His gaze was colder than the frigid air.

Mio stopped as well and calmly replied, "You can take me. If that’s what you want. You can even kill me here if you want. I’ve already accepted that much."

"…"

"You can do whatever you want—cook me, burn me. I have no one else in Pleiades to rely on but you. If you abandon me, then there’s nothing more I can do. So… do whatever you want…!"

Her words were cut off by Hachidori’s right hand, which tightened around her throat.

"You’ve underestimated me."

As he strangled her, his eyes became even sharper. Mio instantly realized he wasn’t joking—he was serious.

"Did you think I wouldn’t kill you? Did you think I’d spare someone I’ve trained with for years?"

It was suffocating. She couldn’t breathe. Her lungs screamed for air, and her hands instinctively wanted to rise to grab his.

But Mio didn’t resist.

"Did you think I’d leave a weakness for you to exploit?"

Real intent to kill filled Hachidori’s grip.

He’s really going to kill me.

Hachidori’s frozen expression began to blur from her vision. The sky faded away.

And still, Mio didn’t resist, accepting it all.

—If I die here, then so be it.

—I lost the gamble. That’s all...

As she mentally apologized to Claire and Kiyoaki, Mio accepted her fate, closed her eyes, and prepared to be killed.

Her vision went completely dark as the strength left her knees.

She felt her body hit something hard.

Suddenly, a rush of oxygen flooded into her lungs. Her body, desperate for air, hyperventilated as she lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.

In front of her were Hachidori’s shoes. Staring at his feet, she inhaled deeply, unable to control her body.

It took several minutes for her breathing to calm down. Hachidori stood silently, watching her recover.

Mio managed to sit up, still trembling, and looked up at him.

"…Are you going to keep tormenting me?"

"…"

"…Tell me where Claire is."

"And what will you do with that information?"

"I’m going to save her."

"By yourself?"

"Even if I’m alone, I’ll go."

Mio’s gaze was filled with determination. She knew Hachidori wouldn’t be swayed by anything but the truth of her feelings.

"There are no allies of Claire Cruz left in Pleiades. Even if you manage to rescue her, it’s impossible for you and her to continue fleeing on your own."

"…Even so, I have to save her. I can’t leave her behind."

"How childish. I’m done with this."

Hachidori dismissed her, turned his back, and began to walk away.

Mio silently watched him leave. Then, with determination, she spoke.

"Your mother. She looked at your picture once and said something."

Hachidori stopped.

"That day, the visitor at your house was the Holy Emperor, Thomas."

It was something Natasha Belour had suddenly murmured about a month ago.

Hachidori’s face turned slightly toward her.

"I don’t really know what it meant, but her voice was unusually clear… It was as if she had regained her senses."

For a brief moment, a flicker of surprise crossed Hachidori’s usually stoic expression.

"…Are you sure? Did my mother really say that?"

"Yes, about a month ago. She was in better health than usual that day…"

Hachidori stared at Mio for a few moments, then turned his face forward again, looking out over Pleiades below.

"The Holy Emperor… visited our home… back then?"

It seemed as though Hachidori was searching through distant memories. Mio could only guess, but from the photograph in the hospital room, it was clear that Hachidori came from a prestigious noble family. For some reason, his family had fallen from grace, his mother had become mentally and physically ill, and Hachidori had ended up becoming a special operative. He had been investigating who was responsible for his family’s downfall in the moments between missions.

Perhaps the words Natasha had murmured that day held a vital clue to the incident that had disgraced Hachidori’s family. Mio had gambled on mentioning it, but Hachidori’s reaction was far stronger than she had expected. He stood there, deep in thought, staring at the landscape for several minutes, completely ignoring Mio’s presence.

Eventually, he clenched both his fists tightly and muttered, "…I see. It all fits. It fits, but…"

Mio couldn’t see his face, only his back. Yet from that posture, it seemed as though a great sadness was weighing on him.

"…Did I help, even a little?"

She gathered her courage and asked. Hachidori didn’t answer. He simply looked up at the sky, then, without turning back, said, "…I’ve never heard such words from my mother."

"I’ve been with her every day in the hospital room. You’ve been busy with work and couldn’t visit often, right? So… I just happened to hear it. That’s all."

"…"

"Have I repaid you now? You saved my life two, maybe three times."

Hachidori snorted audibly.

"…In the end, you finally proved useful."

He spoke with a hint of sarcasm. Mio gave him a faint smile in response.

"That’s because you trained me."

Hachidori turned his face slightly toward her, his expression as severe as ever.

"Because of this information, I’ll let you go today. But never come here again. If you do, I’ll kill you."

Harsh and cold, Hachidori left no room for argument.

A wave of sadness swept through Mio’s heart. She had known this would be the outcome. Someone as skilled and elite as Hachidori wasn’t going to betray his side so easily.

These past two and a half months of daily visits had yielded no results. But at least it seemed her information had been of some use to Hachidori. That would have to be enough.

"…Okay. I understand. Say hello to your mother for me. She seems to think I’m just a dedicated nurse…"

"…As long as you side with Claire, we remain enemies. Don’t forget that."

"…I know. I’m sorry for bothering you."

Mio bowed her head, and Hachidori’s tone grew harsher.

"…Go. I’m not playing your little friendship game. If you try to infiltrate the palace, I’ll kill you next time."

"…Yeah. We’re enemies… after all."

"If you understand, then disappear. It’s unpleasant, don’t look back."

Hachidori glared at Mio with murderous eyes and pointed back toward the path.

Her last hope was gone. Mio felt her strength drain away from the very core of her body.

"…I get it. Sorry for causing you trouble. Goodbye."

Unable to even raise her head, Mio turned away from Hachidori and trudged back along the path.

Her eyes were fixed on the ground, overwhelmed by defeat.

She had been foolish to think she could rely on Hachidori.

He was Zenon’s subordinate. He was Claire’s enemy. There was no way he could ever be on her side.

As Mio walked away, she heard the metaphorical sound of the things that had supported her up until now crumbling.

There was no one left to rely on. The cold wind howled against her skin and deep into her heart.

She had put all her hope into this last chance, coming here every day with determination, only to walk away empty-handed. If she infiltrated the palace to meet Hachidori, she would simply be killed by him...

"...What?"

Her feet stopped. Her face lifted.

"...What?"

She repeated the word, blinking in confusion.

Her mind replayed Hachidori's words from earlier.

She had been so focused on the menacing tone of his words that she hadn’t fully processed it. But why would she need to infiltrate such a place?

There was only one answer.

—Claire is imprisoned in the Inner Palace...!

Mio’s eyes widened as she turned around. No one was there anymore. Only the barren trees stretched their thin branches into the crisp January sky.

"Hachidori..."

She called his name, staring at the empty space where he had stood.

Hachidori had vanished without a trace. Maybe he didn’t want to get involved with her any longer, or maybe he had left because it was too difficult for him. She couldn’t be sure. But now, the wind that had felt so cold and biting earlier seemed somehow warmer and gentler.

Tears welled up from the depths of her heart, and a single drop rolled down her cheek.

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

Those words from the pledge echoed in the clear sky. Perhaps that pledge still lived within Hachidori as well.

Mio raised her face and, looking toward where Hachidori had been, called out in a loud voice.

"Hachidori, thank you! Thank you so much!"

He wasn’t there, but she believed he could hear her. She shouted toward the sky with that belief.

"I hated you at first, but now..."

Mio hesitated for just a moment. But since no one else was around, and she knew she would likely never see Hachidori again, she let the words spill into the clear air.

"I love you! I’ll never forget you! I swear, I’ll never forget!"

She cried out with all her heart.

"I believe your mother will get better!"

For some reason, memories of Hachidori flooded her mind, one after another.

Looking back, the only reason she was alive today was thanks to him.

On the Eriadore airship. On Air Hunt Island. In Pleiades. If Hachidori hadn’t been nearby, she would have died at least three times by now. The blood he had transfused into her still flowed through her veins. And now, he had even told her where Claire was. Even though giving her that information would put his own position at risk, he had still extended a hand to help her.

Mio felt certain that, despite everything, Reiner and Hachidori were the same person. Somewhere deep inside, Thomas Belour, the kind-hearted young man, was still there, helping her again and again.

A light had pierced the darkness that had surrounded her for so long.

It was the light that Hachidori, Reiner, and Thomas had given her.

"Thank you! I’m so glad I met you! Stay well, Hachidori, Reiner, Thomas! Thank you, goodbye, thank you!"

Mio cast those three names into the winter air. As a refreshing breeze swept over her, she shouted her farewells to the empty space, rallying her own spirit.

—Let’s go.

—Let’s save Claire. To the palace in Demistri.

By a strange twist of fate, it was the same place she had once infiltrated with Kiliai, dressed in the attire of a concubine. She had eavesdropped on Demistri and Zenon’s secret conversations in those decadent chambers. That’s where Claire must be imprisoned.

Now that she knew, it was enough. Mio steeled her resolve and looked out over the cityscape of Pleiades, thinking of her captive friend.

"Wait for me, Claire. I will save you... I swear."

She entrusted her determination to the wind, and after fixing her gaze on the shadowy figure of the distant Ulysses Palace, Mio turned on her heel and left.

Hachidori stood alone in the forest on the mountainside, listening to Mio’s words.

He leaned against a thick tree trunk, keeping himself hidden from her view, arms crossed as he stared coldly at the January sky.

Whether Mio knew he was still there or not, she continued shouting her farewells into the air.

"I hated you at first, but now... I love you!"

Hachidori snorted softly. Another one of your saccharine friendship games? I don’t care. I’m not getting involved. Don’t drag me into your foolish make-believe.

"I’ll never forget you! I swear I’ll never forget! And I believe your mother will get better!"

Just shut up and leave already. If someone overhears, they’ll get suspicious. If Zenon’s men find out about this, my position will be in jeopardy.

Despite his grumbling thoughts, Hachidori remained where he was, listening to her words.

"Thank you! I’m so glad I met you! Stay well, Hachidori, Reiner, Thomas! Thank you, goodbye, thank you!"

Her voice held a trace of tears. She must have been overjoyed to finally learn Claire’s whereabouts in the midst of her endless covert activities.

Once her voice faded and Mio’s presence disappeared from the mountainside, Hachidori finally moved away from the cover of the trees. He was already far along the path, and the mountain had returned to its deep, quiet stillness.

Reflecting on what he had done today, Hachidori found himself baffled.

—Why did I tell Mio where Claire was?

For a special agent to leak classified information to the enemy—this was nothing short of treason. It was an unforgivable betrayal, one that could lead to him being torn apart if exposed. Why had he done it?

—That’s a lie.

Had he been influenced by their softness over time? Years of covert work might have caused the Reiner persona to surface in his consciousness.

—No, that’s not it.

It wasn’t just that.

—How long are you going to keep running from me?

Who are you?

—You know, don’t you?

What are you? I don’t know you.

—You just heard the name. From Mio.

"Ghh..."

Hachidori clutched his head. A sudden, unsettling sensation, as if some other creature was moving inside his skull.

"Hachidori, Reiner, Thomas!"

Mio’s voice echoed within him, reverberating through his body. Every cell in his being responded to that voice, chanting the name in unison.

"Thomas!"

Hachidori’s bloodshot eyes widened. His body felt like it was boiling from within.

"You are dead."

—How cold.

"I erased you during the training. You were annihilated."

—I’ve been with you all along.

"You’re a vanished human, not even a fragment of your personality remains. I am the one in control."

—*Call my name, Hachidori.

"Don’t you dare command me."

—You are just a piece of me, Hachidori.

"Shut up!!"

Hachidori fell to his knees, clutching his head. His face, which had never shown any sign of breaking, was now twisted in agony.

"Disappear!! You’re gone, annihilated long ago! You’re nothing but a remnant of memories!"

With sheer force, Hachidori tried to suppress the voice echoing from within.

—You are me. Reiner is me. We are one.

Letting out a beastly roar, Hachidori remained on his knees, looking up at the sky. His expression was that of a condemned man pleading for mercy.

"Stop it!! You’re nothing but a ghost!!"

Hachidori's anguished scream was swallowed by the cold January sky.

The sky remained clear and blue, looking down on Hachidori as he knelt in despair on the mountainside. A sharp wind swept through the withered trees, carrying his pained cries far beyond Pleiades.