episode_0002

2199 AD.

‘Humanity reaches Pluto.’

With the development of science and the discovery of an omnipotent substance called ‘ether’, mankind has succeeded in entering space and reaching the end of the solar system.

Why couldn’t we go further?

‘Because of aliens.’

Humanity discovered.

The existence of alien life forms approaching from beyond Pluto.

This alien life form, named ‘Crystal Tree’ because its appearance resembles a jewel, attacked humanity without any reason.

‘The war with aliens broke out because of the omnipotent substance ether.’

The cause is ether.

In 2025, about 180 years ago, a micrometeorite fell on Earth.

The micrometeor that fell in Antarctica contained a large amount of extraterrestrial radiation and caused changes in various minerals on Earth.

-oil? nuclear power? Now it’s ether!

-Ether comes out of the gem!

Ruby, sapphire, etc.

Minerals that humans previously called gems have undergone radioactive transformation and have become an energy source that emits ‘ether’, an all-purpose substance that replaces electricity, oil, and nuclear energy.

‘It is true that humanity developed thanks to ether.’

Humanity took full advantage of this, calling it a miracle of God and a gift from the universe, and laid the foundation for advancement into space.

And now, 2199.

‘It’s thanks to the ether that I can live here, in the space colony, just like on Earth.’

The era of space exploration has become so active that humanity has built numerous colonies between planets and even built huge ships capable of habitation.

‘Ether is money, so why don’t I have any money?’

I, ‘Trev Cloud’, am unemployed.

I only have ‘credit’, the universal currency in my bank account, and I don’t even have enough money to pay one month’s rent.

age. 27 years old.

Native. earth.

The only certification I have is a disability level at the end of the 22nd century called ‘photosensitive visual impairment due to excessive exposure to cosmic radiation.’

It’s not funny to even call this a certificate, but the only certificates I can show off to the public are my ID card and this level of visual impairment.

If only there was a way for me to pay rent, cover hospital expenses, and live in the central area of ‘Starlight Colony’ next to Mars.

“Should I go to private tutoring? To the route of darkness.”

It’s illegal tutoring.

When it comes to what we teach, should we say ‘how to become a pilot’?

Just by becoming a professional pilot who operates a machine called an armored suit (AS), you can earn at least 1 billion credits per year.

‘Being a mecha pilot makes money.’

Whether you belong to the Space Force, join a company, or become a mercenary, once you have the skills to control AS, making a lot of money is a given.

Is that it?

A sense of mission to protect humanity from extraterrestrial life forms.

Side income through the enormous ether resources obtained from crystal tree hunting.

Its reputation spreads throughout the solar system through its powerful gas, and it is loved and loved no matter what planet or colony it travels to.

AS pilots are popular as idols, earn a top-level doctor, and have a social status higher than that of a judge or prosecutor.

That’s why so many people want their children to become AS pilots.

‘It’s not for nothing that they say ‘train pilots from the age of zero’. Thanks to this, my tutoring income can be much more than the minimum wage even if I only hire 2 or 3 people.’

And I am a significant expert in this field of piloting, and have a track record of getting a large number of students into highly competitive pilot academies.

There are two reasons for not having money.

one. There are a few places where fixed expenses are incurred.

“Ugh, the snow….”

My eyes hurt.

I have vision problems, and if I don’t wear this vision aid, even the slightest sparkle causes pain in my eyes.

The problem is that this vision aid device needs to completely block light, so a device large enough to cover the entire eye is needed.

In the past, it was similar to a VR experience device, but now it has become considerably smaller in size to the level of an eye mask.

The problem is that it costs quite a bit of money to update this regularly and buy the tranquilizer that is injected into the eye mask.

Someone will ask

-Then shouldn’t I just earn a lot?

-Do you have any money saved?

yes.

That’s right.

Until the beginning of last year, I also earned a lot and had a lot of money saved.

But life’s story doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to.

‘Last year I had an accident so I had no income.’

An accident occurred.

We hired one student to tutor, but that student had an accident and all tutoring was cut off.

In the end, I had to leave where I lived and come to Starlight Colony, and it cost me a lot to settle down in my new home.

Now, I need to earn money to cover those sunk costs and to prevent the deposit from being taken out of the deposit for monthly rent.

“I will have to use another tutor.”

Before I even started, I was fired.

* * *

March 23, 2199, Cafeteria, District 2, Starlight Colony.

“I enjoyed your resume. I understand the situation. But I think it would be difficult to leave my daughter in charge.”

The mother of a tutor student whom I had been able to contact for a long time and even conducted an orientation session with, called me to the cafe and rejected me.

“Is it perhaps because of my disability? Or because of this mask?”

“No.”

My tutor avoided eye contact, but I have seen their reactions like that countless times.

“Do you feel burdened by my mask?”

“…….”

“Do you think this disability will not be helpful in pilot tutoring?”

“No. The reason I reject you is because my daughter said she didn’t want to learn from you.”

“Can I at least know the reason?”

“That is.”

My tutor’s eyes fluttered, and she barely opened her mouth while glaring at me.

“My daughter is interested in close combat, and the teacher said that after the first class, she must go to ‘electronic warfare’.”

“Yes.”

Of course.

What is most important to a pilot is talent, and the direction of that talent.

“I said this for your daughter’s future. Your daughter…”

“Do you want me to make the ‘tools’ that I disseminate as my major while only doing hacking and analysis briefings behind the scenes?”

Anger slowly begins to appear in the tutor’s voice.

“I don’t want my daughter to be used by others and become a tool that just waves at the ace behind the scenes of the competition!”

“No, mother…!”

“Find a student who is willing to be a tool while receiving 500,000 credits per hour! joy! I do the calculations…”

The tutor’s mother went out.

It was prepaid, so I had already paid, but she glanced at the counter and walked out, stomping her heels noisily.

“Ha, damn it.”

I feel irritated.

“I deliberately postponed my appointment with another candidate. No, if you’re going to do this, just call and say you won’t do it.”

What kind of courtesy is it to call someone out and refuse?

In my opinion, I would consider that polite, but to me, it is not at all.

“Now that it’s like this….”

“You, by any chance?”

From over your shoulder.

“Yes, that’s right! Long time no see, Cloud!”

“…Captain?”

An old man with a familiar voice tapped my shoulder with his hand.

“Yes! It’s been a while. Are we meeting in person for the first time in almost five years? I heard you’re coming to Starlight Colony.”

“…I haven’t been able to contact you yet. Sorry.”

“No, no. Are we both busy?”

He’s a fist taller than me.

His tiger-like appearance, short hair, and beard were typical images of a bold and charismatic ‘captain’.

“Long time no see. Captain Edmund Greenfield. Oh, are you still the captain? I heard you are still in the military…”

“You’re a colonel for 10,000 years.”

“Ah, that.”

“It’s because I like the scene, so don’t worry about it. And first of all, because of my position, I am currently being treated as a brigadier general.”

“……?”

Did I receive some new mission while I wasn’t seeing him?

I know that he has always caused trouble in the higher-ups and has been passed over for promotion several times. His official rank is colonel, but he is treated as a brigadier general?

‘No way.’

There is something.

There is definitely something about meeting someone from 15 years ago by chance in a place like this.

“Okay. Um, are you still teaching pilots these days?”

“Yes. I think I will continue to do this until I die.”

“Until I die.”

At that moment, I had a hunch.

“Trap…?”

“Uh huh. What a trap. What am I doing to trap you?”

“Was your mother, whom I met earlier as a tutor, an acquaintance of the captain?”

“It’s true that I know this person, but that doesn’t mean I created this situation on purpose to get you out. On my honor, it really is a coincidence.”

“Coincidence….”

“Or the guidance of ether.”

“…….”

Guidance of the ether.

Although it is not a word I like very much, ether has gained a god-like status for human civilization in the 22nd century.

In fact, he is also a god.

Isn’t the basis of the treatment for this visor, which protects my optic nerves, also ether?

“Hmm. It was fate that we met like this, and I wonder if maybe we can help each other.”

“Help, what do you want? I am…”

“Of course, he is an ‘instructor’.”

Before I could speak, Captain Edmund raised his hand and stopped me.

“I am currently the head of the faculty at [Starlight Academy-Seonggwang Academy], the representative pilot training institution of Starlight Colony, and the captain of the 3rd Fleet.”

“…Were you working at the military academy?”

“Okay. It was assigned this way. It’s my first time here this year and I’m just getting used to it. But…”

Captain Edmund stroked his beard with his hand and his eyes began to shine.

“The instructor in charge of the special platoon went on indefinite leave of absence due to personal reasons.”

“Leave of leave…? Special platoon instructor…?”

“Okay. We are currently recruiting temporary instructors.”

“Term term….”

“Nothing else. Just take charge of a platoon and think of yourself as the platoon leader. No one would ask for something in a military style from an instructor called on a fixed-term basis.”

“Um….”

Something smells really bad, but…

“7 million credits per month.”

“…….!!”

” Bonuses are paid separately depending on performance. Coincidentally, there are a lot of mock battles with other colonies this year, and since it is a special platoon, it is a place where aces are gathered…”

“7 million per month….”

To refuse.

“After taxes.”

“Let’s do this.”

It was too much money.

I should have noticed at this time.

With great compensation comes great responsibility.