Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia Volume 1 - Ch 1

Kizuna, the test for today involves this program.

A long-haired female displayed the details for today's experiment on the monitor.

Kizuna nodded enthusiastically after confirming the content.

I understand, Mom. I'll work hard today too.

That's right, you truly are a good child. Do your very best.

It was a stark white experiment room, devoid of any other objects. Here, his mother dedicated all her time to conducting experiments day by day.

These experiments focused on the development of a novel weapon known as the Heart Hybrid Gear.

This weapon appeared to leverage technology from another universe, a convergence of cutting-edge advancements.

However, Kizuna did not fully grasp its nature.

What he did understand was that a small, capsule-like object called a core was implanted within his body through surgery. Then, powered by that core, a magnificent protector resembling armor and a weapon would be equipped onto his person.

And then, when he used it and conducted the experiments, his mother would be happy; that was the extent of his understanding.

You are the sole possessor of the Heart Hybrid Gear in this world, you know? The outcome of this experiment will be the key to saving the world.

He took pride in being relied upon by his mother.

He felt a sense of triumph, knowing he was the only one in the world who possessed the Heart Hybrid Gear.

He was glad to be of use to his mother.

He felt a bit like a hero.

And so, on a certain day.

Who is that?

A girl, lying on a stretcher, was brought into the laboratory.

She appears to be a lost child. She was recently discovered in Tokyo.

Hmmm.

He wondered why she had been brought here. As he pondered this,

That's why, it's perfectly fine for Kizuna to not come here anymore.

Eh?

That girl's aptitude for the Heart Hybrid Gear is astonishingly high. With Kizuna's current specifications, further experimentation is rendered meaningless. You are no longer needed.

Wa-

Wait, just a moment.

Farewell, Kizuna. Sayonara.

Wait!

Mom!

I will work even harder!

That's why!

With a gasp, Hida Kizuna's eyes snapped open.

He instinctively scanned his surroundings; he was currently aboard a train.

It was a linear motor car that traveled underground between the megafloats. He had dozed off while seated on it just moments before.

I was seeing a dream of the past after such a long time, huh.

He worried if he had been talking in his sleep, but there was no one else on the train besides him.

For him to experience that kind of dream, it had been quite a while since he last visited the academy float, so he wondered if he was feeling nervous.

His reflection in the window showed not a child's face, but that of a high school student. The digital synergy display, located near the door, showed the map of the Pacific Ocean. A red dot was moving across that map.

Megafloat (Extra-large Floating Ocean Structure) Japan was currently navigating the vast Pacific Ocean. Inside the train, the air conditioning was functioning, but as the Megafloat neared the equator, the exterior was oppressively hot and humid.

The float was essentially a colossal city constructed upon the sea.

Floats like Tokyo Float and Osaka Float, representing Japan's administrative divisions, were connected to form the immense structure known as Megafloat Japan.

If this immense size were compared to something from the past, it could rival the scale of Tokyo's old District 23. However, such a scale pales in comparison to super-large nations like America. The size of a megafloat signified a country's national power. Each nation traversed the world's oceans, piloting their unique megafloats.

Currently, these megafloats served as a literal nation for countries that had lost their territories. The megafloat constituted all the remaining land they possessed. The crews and inhabitants of the megafloat were the entirety of the nation's populace, confirmed to be safe under the present circumstances.

For these megafloats sailing across the global seas, concepts like territorial waters held no significance.

A world map no longer existed.

Everything commenced from the day the world was irrevocably altered.

The First Another Universe Conflict

Fifteen years ago, without any forewarning, without any prior notice, it erupted unexpectedly.

North America, South America, Russia, China, Australia, South Africa, France—Entrances (Collision Surfaces) to an alternate universe began appearing. Subsequently, magical weapons, a fusion of magic and science, emerged from these Entrances.

In the current state of affairs, no one could ascertain which side initiated the conflict. However, it was an undeniable reality that a state of battle had ensued. The flames of war then spread with astonishing speed.

The Entrances to the alternate universe remained open for a mere two weeks, yet hundreds of cities and fifty million lives were lost. Humanity proved utterly defenseless against the army from the other universe.

Thus, the first encounter with an alternate universe concluded in the most catastrophic manner imaginable.

It was quite vexing that the people of the other universe remained completely unintelligible.

Their side was subjected to relentless assaults, utterly incapable of launching any counterattacks. Humanity had yet to grasp the objectives of these invaders, nor had they even glimpsed their forms.

Then, half a year prior.

The Second Conflict with the Other Universe erupted.

The scale of this ensuing battle dwarfed any previous encounters.

Rifts began to manifest across every continent and island nation, without exception. From these portals, a torrent of armaments from the other universe poured forth in overwhelming numbers.

Mankind mounted a desperate defense, yet their conventional weaponry proved utterly useless against the advanced technology of the invaders.

The military forces were annihilated in an instant, and the world succumbed to conquest.

Having learned from the First Conflict with the Other Universe, each nation had constructed enormous floating cities, serving as mobile arks for evacuation and as decisive trump cards in battle. In essence, these megafloats were humanity's contingency plan. They were equipped with comprehensive societal infrastructures, mirroring their terrestrial counterparts, encompassing governance, economics, and even the functions of a city in a compact, self-sufficient form.

As each nation fell to the invaders from the other universe, they abandoned their ancestral lands, transforming their megafloats into nomadic countries traversing the vast oceans.

However, those who could not reach the megafloats were left behind in the original territories. Currently, the megafloats possessed no means of ascertaining the fate of these stranded individuals.

Attempts at communication were futile, as the land was enveloped in an electromagnetic blackout, rendering all transmissions impossible.

Approaching their former homelands invariably triggered the appearance of the invaders' armaments and fleets emerging from the rifts, preventing the megafloats from daring to get close, even with the desire to ascertain the well-being of their people.

While the inhabitants of the megafloats lived in relative peace above the safety of the seas, a deep yearning persisted: to reclaim their lost countries, to rescue those left behind, and to return to their cherished cities and homes.

The high-speed underground train glided through what was once Tokyo Station.

From beneath the surface, one could hardly imagine that the original Tokyo Station building had been dismantled and meticulously reconstructed within this new subterranean environment. During the construction of each megafloat, iconic structures from various administrative regions were carefully disassembled and reassembled on board, preserving the distinct character of those areas. Efforts were made to meticulously recreate familiar landscapes and other cherished elements.

Suddenly, the view outside the window flooded with brilliant light.

His vision was momentarily overwhelmed by the intense brightness. He squinted, then gazed out, beholding an endless expanse of sapphire sea glittering under the sun's embrace. White clouds drifted lazily across the transparent sky, testament to the radiant sun of the southern country shining down.

The magnetic levitation train traversed the ocean, spanning a magnificent, lengthy bridge.

Just beyond this bridge, Kizuna could discern his impending destination.

Structures resembling a formidable defensive wall encircled the periphery. Rapid-fire cannons and missile launchers jutted out in every direction, providing 360-degree coverage. The entire atmosphere exuded the aura of an impenetrable fortress.

Tactical Defense Academy Ataraxia.

This self-sustaining float, spanning three kilometers in diameter, stood as one of the most venerable among its kind.

While all regional floats possessed automated city defense systems, the fundamental responsibility for the defense of Megafloat Japan rested upon Ataraxia's shoulders.

In the immediate aftermath of the Conflict with the Other Universe, Ataraxia served as the vanguard of anti-invasion technology, functioning as a research institution dedicated to cultivating human talent and advancing research and development. Beyond its university-level functions, this float also encompassed integrated high school and middle school facilities.

His mother maintained a research facility within Ataraxia, a place where Kizuna had resided during his younger years. Seven years ago, he had been expelled from the research facility and compelled to relocate to the Tokyo float. Though the stay was brief, he began living there with his elder sister, solely the two of them.

However, his elder sister soon gained admission to Ataraxia herself, leaving Kizuna to live alone.

Access to Ataraxia was strictly limited to those who had received explicit authorization. Kizuna found himself unable to even approach its vicinity.

Each month, a public lottery was held, offering a chance for a select few dozen individuals to participate in a field trip to Ataraxia. Yet, he had never once been selected.

He harbored a suspicion that he might have been disqualified from the lottery from the outset, but he persisted in submitting his application month after month.

Despite sending numerous letters to his mother, not a single reply had ever reached him.

For a span of time, he had some exchanges with his elder sister, but she seemed occupied, and their interactions gradually waned.

Then, just last night, his elder sister, Hida Reiri, contacted him by phone after a significant absence.

{Kizuna?}

Nee-chan!? It’s been ages! You never reached out, so what are you up to right now?

{I’m tied up with my work. More importantly, I’ve finalized the admission arrangements for Ataraxia. Head to the reception by noon tomorrow. Once you complete the enrollment procedures, report directly to the command headquarters. Understood?}

Ha? What are you suddenly talking about, Nee-san? My grades aren’t exactly stellar, you know. There’s absolutely no way I could get into Ataraxia.

Ataraxia was a place that brought together individuals destined to become the cornerstones of humanity across various domains. No matter how he considered it, it wasn’t a place he could possibly belong.

{I have business concerning your Heart Hybrid Gear.}

A sharp pain pierced Kizuna’s chest.

Ahaha, Nee-san’s saying something so nostalgic, but this thing is completely useless, you know?

Frankly, he had no desire to activate it even once more.

He recoiled at the memory of being treated like an unwanted child by his mother.

Furthermore, there was another pressing reason.

Activating the Heart Hybrid Gear necessitated vocalizing the name of the gear residing within oneself; it served as the activation code.

He absolutely did not want to utter that name aloud.

As a child, it had never bothered him, but now, it was a keyword he dreaded speaking openly.

{I’ll be the one to determine its usefulness. If you’ve got it, then do as I say. If you’re late tomorrow, I’ll make all your embarrassing secrets public. For instance, that time when you were little and really needed to use the restroom…}

I, I got it! I understand!

The linear motor car glided to a stop at the station, and Kizuna disembarked.

What exactly is Nee-chan thinking? No, more pressingly, why did Nee-chan make that kind of call? If I recall correctly, I heard Nee-chan’s work involved some sort of office job.

By any chance, was she employed by a company connected to Ataraxia?

He had no clue what his elder sister was thinking, but truthfully, he felt deeply reluctant about this.

This place held unpleasant childhood memories for him, and it was the same float where his mother resided; these facts weighed heavily on Kizuna’s heart.

He might encounter his mother. He yearned to see her, yet simultaneously dreaded it.

While still caught in these conflicting emotions, he proceeded with the entrance inspection.

The inspection served to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering Ataraxia.

The receptionist wasn't human but a three-dimensional CG character. A beautiful girl with pink hair spoke with a synthesized voice remarkably close to human.

Confirmation complete. You are Hida Kizuna, scheduled for enrollment into the Tactical Defense Academy Ataraxia today, correct? Age 17, and confirmed to be transferring in as a second-year high school student?

Uwaa, I’m really going to transfer here!

Ye, yes. There are no mistakes.

Welcome to Ataraxia! May fortune favor you.

After passing the inspection and crossing the threshold, he was presented with the grounds of Ataraxia.

Hee, I expected it to feel rather severe, given its connection to a military facility, but the townscape is surprisingly beautiful and stylish instead.

Compact electric vehicles moved to and fro along the main thoroughfare, while students and residents strolled along the roads. Digital displays, floating in the air, lined the sidewalks. Advertisements for products, news, and similar content were projected onto them. These would allegedly be utilized in emergencies for urgent information and evacuation directives.

On either side of the sidewalk, a multitude of establishments—shopping malls, cafes, brand boutiques, and more—stood in succession. Ataraxia fundamentally operated on a boarding system, requiring all students to reside in dormitories; houses were also provided for staff and researchers. Coupled with the stringent inspections upon every entry and exit, there was a demand for the interior of the float to provide all necessities for a complete living experience.

To meet this demand, every conceivable type of shop, medical facility, and various recreational venues were established within Ataraxia. Every structure was erected under the guidance of top-tier architects, resulting in designs that were both avant-garde and futuristic.

Hee, even the chain convenience stores here boast a cool aesthetic.

Intrigued by the stylishness, he attempted to enter. Inside, the store was bustling with Ataraxia’s students. Everyone was chatting with friends, happily selecting their lunches or snacks.

I wonder if it’s currently lunchtime? Or perhaps the convenience store also serves as the school’s cafeteria?

While tempting treats such as special cup ramen and snacks exclusive to Ataraxia were available, he knew he'd have ample opportunities to purchase them later.

Having endured considerable difficulty to reach this point, perhaps exploring other establishments would be a good idea? His stomach also rumbled with a touch of hunger.

However, whether it was a cafe, fast-food joint, or gyudon shop, every place was thronged with patrons. What's more, a staggering ninety percent of the customers sported Ataraxia's uniform. (TN: Gyudon is a Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of rice topped with meat and vegetables.)

Truly remarkable. It felt as though a significant portion of these establishments served as extensions of Ataraxia's own cafeteria.

Kizuna contemplated the impending, intense struggle for lunch that awaited him starting tomorrow.

As he continued to wander, his fondness for Ataraxia grew deeper.

If the facilities were top-tier, then surely the staff members were equally gracious and welcoming.

The students mirrored this sentiment; observing him, clad in casual attire and seemingly lost, they inquired if anything was amiss, if he required assistance, or if he was searching for someone, with many expressing concern.

Above all, an atmosphere of happiness permeated the surroundings.

In the shopping mall's plaza, an amateur band was holding a debut concert, and at the game center, individuals were engrossed in playing games while holding bentos.

Though it was designed as a military installation, the reality was that this place exuded an incredible sense of freedom.

Wait, this is not good-! I completely forgot about heading to the command headquarters!

Surely, if he simply followed the appropriate thoroughfares, he would eventually locate a building fitting the description, and there should be navigational signage. Even without such aids, the kindness of the people here meant he could simply ask for directions.

With this thought, he set off.

But then,

I'm lost.

Ataraxia's expanse far exceeded his expectations; he couldn't locate either the high school or the command headquarters. Compounding the issue, as the lunch break concluded, the flow of students outside had dwindled to nothing.

Or rather, where exactly am I?

For reasons unknown, he found himself walking within a dense forest.

How can a forest and a river exist within an academy suspended in the sky?

Even if he attempted to retrace his steps, he no longer had any sense of the direction he should take to return.

Am I going to be stranded on my very first day of school and perish? This is beyond mere foolishness.

Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, he entered a clearing deeper within the woods.

I found it! I've finally returned to the city!

Overwhelmed with relief, he charged forward.

-!?

Emerging from the forest, he was met with the sight of the sea.

Kizuna halted his momentum so abruptly that he pitched forward.

The location he had reached was the very edge of the floating structure. It resembled a sheer cliff face, with the hull of the megafloat descending to unseen depths below.

The colossal scale of the megafloat's hull was evident, its height spanning dozens of meters.

I- I nearly died.

However, something else captured his attention even more profoundly.

A large-caliber rapid-fire cannon was positioned at the extreme edge.

A young woman stood precariously at the muzzle of the cannon.

Her back was turned towards him, her silver hair and the Ataraxia uniform she wore whipped by the ocean breeze.

He intended to call out to her, but a sudden hesitation stayed his tongue.

If he were to call out carelessly, she might lose her balance.

Cold sweat trickled down Kizuna's forehead.

This area appeared deserted. Damn it, what kind of scene have I stumbled upon?

Should he call for assistance?

Kizuna made to step back, but his foot landed on a dry branch beneath him.

The sharp snap of the twig turning startled, causing the young woman to pivot towards him.

Ah