Chapter 170: Yukong's Exchange Diary, Causing Everyone to Fall Silent
「 Returning to the Sky-Faring Commission, after relaying Jing Yuan's intel to Qingni, a shadow of sorrow immediately dimmed the young girl's eyes.
"Every time the past comes up, she either changes the subject or pretends not to notice." Qingni drew a deep breath, her fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on the hem of her skirt. "I can probably guess that some things Mom went through are scars that will never heal. So, once I was old enough to understand, I never asked again."
"Even geniuses have their share of fortune and misfortune…"
Welt nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Yukong doesn't want you to bear the weight of her undeserved reputation. Moreover, on the battlefield of life and death, one's talent and renown are ultimately meaningless."
Qingni's eyes lit up. "Are you saying she remembers the pain of losing her dearest friend, which is why she refuses to let me fly? The more talented I am, the more afraid she becomes that I'll repeat her mistakes?"
Welt dared not speculate on Yukong's thoughts but suggested that mother and daughter should have a proper talk. Before that, however, Qingni wished to first confirm some details of her mother's past, searching for her old diaries in the archive cabinets.
After a thorough search, Qingni quickly found the exchanged diaries between Yukong and Caiyi, and the contents within gradually drained the color from Qingni's face.
.....
—In the Bygone Days—
Yukong suddenly threw an arm around Caiyi's shoulders from behind, playfully pinching her cheek.
"Hey!" Caiyi nearly jumped out of her skin, turning to see Yukong, her eyes instantly brightening. "You scared the life out of me!"
Yukong grinned, revealing a small row of teeth, her cyan hair swaying gently in the morning breeze. "Caiyi, we're going to be partners!"
"Ugh, the thought of sailing with my rival from the racing days feels a bit… unusual, hehe. But what can you do? Orders are orders!"
Caiyi's face flushed crimson, and she gave a soft huff. "That last record doesn't count; that was because of Guangyuan…"
"Hmph… I knew you'd use Guangyuan as an excuse—Alright, we're about to head into battle together, finally able to deal with those Abundance-blessed marauders harassing the borders, so, ahem…" Yukong deliberately cleared her throat, swiftly circling to Caiyi's side. "A quick interview, Miss Caiyi, are you nervous?"
"Not at all!"
"Excellent! Such confidence!" Yukong's crisp voice rose several octaves. She suddenly grabbed Caiyi and spun her around, their uniforms unfurling like wings. "We promised, we're going to be the most formidable pilot duo!"
The assembly whistle sounded in the distance, and Yukong tugged Caiyi, beginning to run. "Hurry up, partner! Can't be late for our first mission!"
"Alright, Yukong, slow down—" Caiyi stumbled, pulled along by her, but couldn't help but laugh. The pilot barracks were almost filled with their combined laughter. 」
「 .....」
〜Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World〜
"Is this Yukong-sama's past?"
Fern's eyes widened, gazing incredulously at the lively, bright foxian girl on the light screen.
"She's a completely different person…"
"Indeed. At this time, there was still light in Yukong's eyes."
Frieren couldn't help but sigh. The young Yukong was like a newly honed blade, sharp and full of vigor. Although she now knew what Yukong would endure later… the thought of that once vibrant girl being worn down into her current desk-bound, weary self still brought a pang of regret.
Seeing Yukong's smiling face on the light screen, Frieren suddenly recalled that it seemed Yukong hadn't truly smiled with an open heart once since the Trailblazer arrived in Xianzhou.
This radiant, blooming smile of Navigator Yukong… it felt utterly unfamiliar.
"But, Frieren-sama, have you noticed that Caiyi-sama looks a lot like Qingni? Both their hair and eye color."
Fern suddenly interjected.
"…Hmm? It does seem so. Could Qingni not be Yukong's biological daughter?"
—
「 The twilight rays slanted into the room. Yukong pushed open the half-closed door, seeing Caiyi curled up in a corner. Guangyuan's photograph lay on her lap, the smiles from their shared picture long since blurred by her tears.
A tear fell onto Guangyuan's pilot uniform in the photo, the dark water stain eerily resembling a drop of uncoagulated blood.
"Caiyi, back then… Guangyuan must have been so proud." Yukong knelt beside her, hesitating for a long moment, unsure how to offer comfort, only placing her hand over Caiyi's trembling one.
Caiyi's shoulders convulsed violently, finally letting out a stifled sob—a sound squeezed from the deepest part of her chest, laden with heart-wrenching pain.
"Caiyi…" Yukong reached out and pulled her into an embrace, feeling her entire body tremble violently, like a reed about to snap in the wind.
The sunset was like blood, its last lingering glow crawling across the edge of the picture frame on the wall.
In the photograph, Guangyuan was smiling as he pinned the Xianzhou Ace pilot Duo badge onto Caiyi. His fingertips still rested on the collar of her uniform, the gilded badge gleaming faintly in the twilight. And now, the same light shone on Caiyi's pale face, that very badge already clutched tight in her palm, its metal edge digging deep into the flesh of her hand. 」
「 .....」
〜Akame Ga Kill World〜
"…This is war."
Najenda shook her head with a grave expression. 'Inevitable.'
She had witnessed such scenes more than once. Newlywed wives weeping for fallen husbands, elderly mothers staring at casualty reports for their children… During her time as a general in the Empire, she had seen far too much… She had thought her heart would no longer stir at such sights.
"Hmph…"
Without the mood for a smoke, Najenda simply crushed the freshly lit cigarette under her heel.
Tatsumi lowered his head, his face heavy, trembling without a word. Since joining Night Raid, he had always operated with his comrades, never before viewing a war from the perspective of an ordinary soldier.
Upon hearing Caiyi's desperate sobs, he felt as if someone were gouging his heart with a blunt knife; that tearing, agonizing pain was unbearable.
"Just like the victory Caiyi and Guangyuan pursued, even at the cost of their lives, the war we must win is precisely this kind of war."
Najenda fixed Tatsumi with a deep gaze.
"Within the Empire, there must be countless others suffering and tormented like them. What we must do is ensure they never cry again."
Najenda took a deep breath.
"…Even if many will die in the process."
—