081
The aerial vehicle that Giselle and I were riding arrived at Akbaran’s first airport.
Airports were different in scale from airfields and the like. Airport No. 1 was the largest of them all.
The city airfields we commonly use can only accommodate small and medium-sized aircraft. Large aircraft such as ships and airships take off and land at airports on the outskirts of the city, not inside.
Because of this, Akbaran’s airports, although located on the outskirts, had security and facilities that were just as good as those in the upper-level areas.
Woohoo!
Even now, the giant cargo ships that were in charge of the empire’s logistics came and went, casting distant shadows. There were more than a dozen large propulsion systems attached to the bottom, and if they were to fly low, the entire city would turn into a sea of fire.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
The reason I was going crazy was somewhere else. The majesty of the unrealistically large airship was not something I could grasp at the moment.
Swish.
The skirt flowing down my lower body felt unfamiliar.
“Smile. Your makeup will smudge.”
Giselle, who had stepped out of the air vehicle first, spoke. I took a deep breath and calmed my mind.
‘This is a mission.’
And I’m a soldier of the Empire. I’m not some idiot who ruins his mission with petty pride.
My head went cold. I flushed away all the unnecessary emotions like toilet water. I am not defective. I am not subversive.
“Yes, Miss.”
I spoke in a distorted voice. It was a function attached to the choker. It was somewhat neutral. However, since my appearance was clearly that of a woman, this was enough.
Now, let me remind you of my status. My current name is Keisa. I joined the Custoria family as a maid two months ago. Keisa is from the lower class, but she was trained as a maid for a noble family from a young age.
‘Because I was evaluated as suitable to be a servant of a noble family during the screening test.’
Kaisa is an obedient woman, patient and honest. I must become that kind of woman from now on.
“Miss? Oh, well, that’s right. Hmm.”
Giselle seemed even more surprised by my sudden change in attitude.
Crunch, crunch.
I got off the skycar with a clatter of shoes. A servant must let his master know where he is. That’s why he wears shoes that make a nice sound. The master can tell when his servant is coming just by hearing the sound. It’s like putting a bell on a cat’s neck.
“Soon the Kartika family… … .”
I hesitated for a moment, checking the time. Damn it, I have to say this to Ilay too. My composed mind is starting to break apart.
“… …Master Illei will be coming.”
Now that I’ve started, I don’t plan on doing it roughly.
“Yeah, Lou, Ke… … move.”
It’s not me who needs to come to her senses, it’s Giselle.
‘Giselle is not a soldier.’
She is different from me. Giselle is someone to watch and protect. If there is a mistake in this mission, it will come from Giselle. I, the soldier, am the one who has to cover up and make up for that mistake. I had to come to my senses.
Crunch, crunch.
I stood in front of Giselle. I saw Ilay among the crowds coming and going from the airport.
Unlike me, who was in many ways empty, Ilay was walking towards us armed. He was wearing chest protection to protect his vital parts, and a thin, folded, transformable helmet hung on the nape of his neck.
Shudder.
Ilay hesitated. Because she saw me. Ilay’s framed eyes were busy analyzing me.
Although it was a thorough makeup, it was hard to fool Ilay’s discerning eye after spending many years with me.
……shit.
Illei noticed me and tried to hold back his laughter. However, his cheeks were red and puffy.
“Sorry, sorry. You being here just means… … .”
Ilay walked towards me and whispered softly. He didn’t ask why I was dressed as a woman.
The mission is on the surface to protect Giselle Custoria. But behind the scenes, there are private matters of the Custoria family. Ileia would have already noticed.
‘I will not seek to know anything beyond my authority.’
It is a virtue of the imperial soldier. Illei also faithfully protected it.
Illei, who had been treating me like a maid, approached Giselle and greeted her.
“I am Ilay Kartika, dispatched from the Royal Guard on an escort mission.”
Judging from his appearance and behavior, Illei was the very epitome of a noble young master.
“… … This is Giselle Custoria. I’ve met you several times, but this is the first time we’ve spoken properly.”
Giselle and Ilay are not on close terms, but they probably know each other well.
‘It’s because of me.’
I told Ilay about Giselle, and I told Giselle about Ilay.
“I wanted to talk to you privately, Giselle.”
“Me too. This will be a good opportunity. This is… …Kesa, who is in charge of my care.”
“Nice to meet you, Keisa.”
Illai said as he looked at me. He maintained a neutrality with a surprisingly mechanical smile. The burst of laughter from earlier seemed like a lie.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Illei.”
I also greeted her while holding the ends of her skirt.
My expression and tone were mechanical, just like Ilay’s. But that doesn’t mean I was dry. Like Ilay’s smile, I also added artificial and pretentious emotions to the machine.
That’s what we are. We could become machines in human form whenever we wanted.
“… …Is it the end?”
Giselle hesitated at the monotonous greeting. She seemed to have expected the two close friends to meet and chat.
It was the first time that I, Keisa, and Iley had met. That’s how we knew each other. And now there were many eyes everywhere.
What’s important to us now is to complete the mission.
“Miss, I think it would be better to start the formalities before it’s too late.”
I said as if I was pushing Giselle.
“Thank you, Keisa. It’s been a while since I’ve been to the airport, so I’m a bit out of it. Yeah, I need to come to my senses.”
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Giselle hurried her steps, and I followed her.
* * *
The first airport had more than 50 entry and exit stations. Domestic flights via private air vehicles were handled by stations numbered 30.
The use of aerial vehicles for inter-city travel within the empire was limited to the nobility and the wealthy. The lower classes mainly used ground vehicles or trains.
However, even the privileged class had to obtain permission to enter Akbaran’s airspace. In principle, it was impossible to enter or leave without a permit. Of course, this was only a matter of principle.
In reality, it is impossible to stop all illegal flights and passages, and those in power can ignore the rules.
‘But if the back isn’t dirty, there’s no reason not to get a permit.’
Giselle, having completed the formalities, walked toward us, her entry permit in her hand.
‘This is also a privilege of the nobility.’
We visited on the same day and received the permit in about ten minutes. We didn’t have to go through any special investigations because our family’s reputation was enough to guarantee our status. For lower class people, it would have taken several days just to get the permit.
From now on, Giselle’s entry and exit records and destinations will be registered in the airport computer network. We just have to wait for Barbara to take the bait.
After receiving the permit, we made our way through the crowds and returned to the aerial vehicle we had come from.
– Switch the driving mode to manual.
As Giselle took control, a voice guidance came on. As she was about to sit in the driver’s seat, Ilay hurriedly approached her.
“I’ll drive… … .”
“No, I’ll do it. I like tinkering with machinery.”
Giselle said firmly. That is true. Her academic major is mechanical engineering. In fact, I have often seen her working with cybernetic prosthetics and machines.
“Then I will leave it to you.”
Illei also stepped back obediently and sat inside.
“As I’m sure you already know, my destination is the Autonovas research lab. They’ve released a new prototype vehicle. Anyone with even a passing interest in this field will probably come to see it.”
Giselle said as she carefully maneuvered the air vehicle to prepare for takeoff.
“If it’s a prototype of Autonova, people would be interested. I’m curious about it too. Oh, by any chance… … .”
Ilay spoke with a show of interest, pretending to be sociable. He asked Giselle a question about mechanical engineering, trying to draw her out, even though he wasn’t particularly interested.
‘Autonovas.’
I know this too. It was a huge company that mainly produced ground vehicles. Although it was a bit behind in the air vehicles and aircraft sectors, it boasted overwhelming technological prowess and reliability in ground vehicles.
‘Everything is natural and not strange. It’s like a plan arranged by Heilas.’
Many nobles will come to see the Autonovas prototype. Giselle’s visit was also very natural.
Maybe Barbara had been waiting for this day, convinced that Giselle would come to the exhibition.
“You won’t see a quadrupedal vehicle in downtown Akbaran. It’s not a form that’s suitable for urban areas.”
Ilay said. He was continuing his conversation with Giselle.
“But I heard that the use of quadrupedal vehicles is increasing in rough terrain. So I’m guessing that Autonova’s prototype is also a quadrupedal vehicle.”
“Hmm, I like the classic four-wheel drive. I wish they would give us more of those too.”
The conversation between the two people was far from my interests.
I closed my eyes and thought about something else. Right now, my only weapon was the dagger attached to my thigh.
I felt along the hem of my skirt, recalling the feel of the dagger.
‘Graken Boot.’
A dagger with a difficult name. Unlike the shock pistol Ruina or the high-pressure heavy weapon Crucis, the Graken Boots were almost useless.
‘It’s a gift from Illei.’
According to Illei’s description, it was an incredible sword. It was said to be a treasure that only the commander-level warriors of the alien race Equsian could possess.
‘If anything, this is all we can do for now.’
Ruina and Crucis were in the storage compartment of the aerial vehicle. Both were high-powered weapons produced by the Imperial Workshop, not items that a mere maid would be able to possess.
‘Well, it’ll be okay since I have Elai.’
I squinted my eyes and observed Ilay.
For the past few months, Ilay has been spending more time than others, pushing herself as if to reproach herself for having spent her time being lazy.
I had an intuition that Ilay was getting stronger.
“Do you have something on my face? Casey.”
Illei felt my gaze and smiled softly. There was a playfulness in her voice. It was only for a moment, but we had already reached an implicit agreement through our eyes and expressions.
“I think you are a rare handsome man. My eyes are drawn to you.”
I spoke slowly and with a determined attitude.
Squeak, clank!
The aerial vehicle shook violently as if it had been in an accident. It was because Giselle, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, stumbled after hearing what I said.
“Turn it off, turn it on. Turn it on, turn it on. Please. Take control, instead… .”
Giselle held the joystick with one hand and covered her mouth with the other.
… … It seems our prank went a little too far.
Illai sat down in the driver’s seat before the air vehicle flipped over. Giselle, who had switched seats, barely managed to compose her expression and glared at me, her mouth wide open.
‘You said you had to take your mission seriously?’
I tilted my head and tried to avoid the question.
Giselle’s point is right. We shouldn’t have played around just now. It was my and Iley’s mistake to not be able to control our impulses.
But we are not perfect machines. Yes, we are not perfect. So we are still humans who are closer to machines.
