Year 3145.
In a land infamous for its deep social divide stood the Kingdom of Xenoliya—a vast nation praised for its overwhelming military strength and advanced technology. Many believed Xenoliya would one day rule the world, carried forward by its unmatched power on the battlefield.
Yet behind that reputation, life inside the kingdom was far from glorious.
“AAAAH! IT’S THE IRON WAILER!! FALL BACK! FALL BACK—ALL OF YOU!”
BRUGH!
“Hey—are you alright? Get up! He’s already—”
CRACK!
“Worthless trash.”
“P-please! Go away! Monster! Demon!!”
THUD!
“Demon?” I muttered quietly.
“Call me whatever you like.”
“What matters is… you die here.”
“H—HIIIIIIAAAAAA!!”
“…Hah. Now where am I supposed to sleep tonight?”
“Mom, why do we have to build robots?” I asked.
She turned toward me, slightly startled. “Hm? That’s sudden. Why ask now?”
“I was just wondering,” I said. “Why do lower families like ours have to make robots for upper families?”
She paused, thinking.
“…That’s a good question.”
“Come on, Mom. Shouldn’t they be the ones helping us instead? They have more than enough.”
She smiled faintly. “Everyone has their own path to the top. We, the lower class, chose to build robots so we could remain accepted by the upper families.”
“Isn’t there any other way?” I asked innocently.
“There is,” she replied. “Graduate as the top student and be acknowledged by an upper academy. If someone succeeds, they can raise their entire family’s status.”
“Then why don’t we do that?”
She let out a quiet sigh.
“Because of our limitations. That path is almost impossible for us.”
GRRRR.
I clenched my fist.
“Then I’ve decided! I’ll become the best student. I’ll amaze all the upper families—with our robots!”
She laughed softly and patted my head.
“Be careful, alright? Do your best, Rinne.”
“Yes! I will!!”
The rain wouldn’t stop falling.
“I studied for three days straight without leaving the house, and now it’s raining,” I muttered.
“…Might as well keep working on the robot.”
I stared at the metal frame in front of me.
“When it’s done, what should I name you? Hm… A—”
“RINNE! DINNER!” my father shouted from outside the room, his voice shaking the house.
“Coming…” I replied weakly.
My plate was empty.
So were my parents’.
I was an only child. Sometimes, I wondered what it would be like to have a younger sibling. Maybe that’s why my parents encouraged me to build robots.
They once said—smiling calmly—
“Think of building robots as raising a younger sibling.
If you fail… then your sibling dies.”
A terrifying statement.
Spoken with a gentle face.
I looked back at the unfinished robot.
“I’ll name you later… studying comes first.”
“Hmm… gold? Ginne? No—focus, Rinne!”
“HEY! MIRACLE SEAT NUMBER TWENTY! DAYDREAMING AGAIN?!”
A heavy voice shattered the classroom.
“YOU’RE A MIRACLE SEAT—ACT LIKE ONE! DISGUSTING LOWER FAMILY!”
“I’m sorry,” I replied quietly.
I wasn’t offended.
But the others—was this how he always treated them?
Miracle Seat?
The bell rang.
“You okay?” a voice spoke from behind me.
“You’ve been spacing out all class.”
“Huh? Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks.”
“I’m Iych. Upper family, District Five. And you?”
“Rinne. Lower family, District Two.”
“…Huh. First time I’ve seen a lower-class student chosen as a Miracle Seat.”
“You know about Miracle Seats?”
“A little. They say only people with special talents can sit there.”
“Then… why am I here?”
Iych stared at me for a moment.
“You’re interesting. A lower-class Miracle Seat who doesn’t know anything.”
Suddenly, he grabbed my hand.
“H—Hey?! Where are you taking me?!”
“Be quiet,” she said.
“And come with me.”