The chaos that erupted in the High Cathedral late at night couldn’t possibly be kept a secret. With helicopters coming and going, barricades being blown up, and the ground shaking as if an earthquake had struck, it was only natural for the Justice Realization Department to dispatch personnel.
“This… doesn’t seem like a normal situation. From the helicopter operation of the Arius Faction to the fact that we’ve been notified of Gehenna’s Student Council President’s visit at this late hour… I can’t help but wonder what’s going on inside there.”
“Senpai Ichika, there are people inside the barricade!”
“…Huh?”
Upon hearing her junior’s words, Nakamasada Ichika of the Justice Realization Department opened her eyes slightly. As reported, people emerged from within the High Cathedral, and not just one, but two figures.
“Yes, yes. I’ll wait, Head! Yes!”
“Hey! You’re… the Senior Administrator of the Student Council, right? And… Urawa Hanako from T-party?”
The identity of the person coming out while on the phone was surprisingly the second-in-command from Gehenna’s Student Council and Mika’s direct attendant from T-party, which left Ichika flustered yet trying to stay calm in the situation.
“Speaking of which, you must be the next Head of the Justice Realization Department… Nakamasada Ichika, right? We were just in need of hands.”
Seeing Ichika gesturing to stop her two junior students who were reaching for their guns, Aco immediately acknowledged without creating unnecessary tension. It was only natural for students of their standing to be acquainted, as the current Student Council and Justice Realization Department operated nearly as rival ally organizations.
“Wait, what do you mean by that?”
“Seems a bit strange… Is it just her who doesn’t know?”
It hadn’t been confirmed that Ichika was to be appointed as the next Head, but everyone had been speculating such.
“That’s just how it is, Aco. When the situation comes crashing down on you, you end up realizing things whether you want to or not, you know?”
“…Well, whatever the case, lend a hand. This situation is pretty urgent.”
“I’m not entirely sure, but let’s at least get inside and see what’s going on in there.”
“You guys are on a rescue operation for a VVIP.”
“…VVIP?”
“It’s about Senpai Mika. You know the current Arius Faction is ready to move like Mika’s personal army at any moment, right? And where is the core armed group, the Arius Squad? Right in there. I doubt more explanation is needed, right?”
Ichika tilted her head, not quite understanding the jumble of sentences she had just heard.
“Rescuing Senpai Mika? That’s hard to imagine…”
“Anyway, once our Head arrives, we’ll head down right away.”
Thud thud thud thud—
“Oh, looks like she’s coming.”
A helicopter from the Student Council approached rapidly, hovering above them. Soon, a rope was lowered, and Sorasaki Hina, a girl symbolizing Gehenna’s might, descended.
As soon as she landed, she scanned the surroundings with cold eyes, her gaze landing on Aco. The moment Ichika locked eyes with her, she felt a bead of cold sweat trickle down her back. Hina was exuding an utterly intimidating presence.
“Lead the way.”
“…Yes, ma’am!”
It was a situation reminiscent of the time Mika was kidnapped in Millennium. However, now Hina was determined to crush anyone who dared stand in her way.
“…Seriously, what on earth has happened?”
Caught in this whirlwind, Ichika could only feel dumbfounded. Following Aco and Hanako’s lead, Hina steeled herself as she boldly entered the underground of the High Cathedral. Something down there was radiating a suffocating presence.
What could it be? Just what lies beyond that point, emitting such an overwhelming aura?
As she pondered while advancing without pause, Hina came upon a horrific scene—the basement of the High Cathedral filled with a monstrous figure in white and chaos… and the monster’s gigantic wings scattering a cosmic cloud.
*
“Oh, holy holiness, have those blessed ones finally ascended to saintliness, and as proof, shall they perform miracles?”
The teacher felt certain upon seeing Jeronimus.
This creature was one that could only be confronted using an adult card. Otherwise, there would be no possibility of resistance.
However, the students’ will remained firm. They awaited the teacher’s orders, determined to face it themselves as much as possible.
Each time Jeronimus slammed his staff, wrapped in yellow light, onto the ground, a massive explosion erupted. The teacher read the signs and immediately led the students out of harm’s way.
Yet, at times, attacks igniting the staff in yellow light were simply too fast to avoid, even with a warning.
When Jeronimus brought down the staff in his left hand, imbued with crimson energy, black smoke enveloped one of the students. There was no way to evade that attack, and the student caught in it fell into a near-death state from the sheer force.
The green and purple lights floating around Jeronimus remained an enigma for everyone. It was concluded that while the purple lights could be destroyed with enough force, the green lights showcased such durability that even Hiyori’s anti-material sniper rifle couldn’t leave a scratch.
Amidst the uncertainty, facing Jeronimus, who possessed the power to push someone into a critical state in a split second, the students’ enthusiasm could fade at any moment. Yet, fueled solely by their determination to save Mika, they pushed themselves to their limits and engaged in battle.
As more and more fell into incapacitating states during combat, and doubts grew about whether they were landing any proper hits on Jeronimus, the teacher began to regret not using the adult card sooner.
Had he decided quickly, the students wouldn’t have needed to push themselves this hard.
Finally, the teacher, who pulled out the adult card, clenched his teeth. After all, isn’t it only natural to use it as many times as necessary for the sake of his students?
At that moment, Jeronimus suddenly spread his wings wide behind him.
Countless stars began to scatter from his wings.
The teacher had no idea what consequences that would bring. However, he knew the task he had to fulfill—the adult card—
Piiing— Thud thud thud thud!!!
Startled by the sudden supporting fire, the teacher turned his head. There, with wings extended, Sorasaki Hina was firing at Jeronimus with icy eyes.
Perhaps due to her presence, the cosmic cloud dispersed. For a fleeting moment, the vast embrace of the cosmic cloud began to gather around Jeronimus’s wings.
The girls who appeared alongside Hina, seemingly from the Justice Realization Department, immediately joined the battle. Although they couldn’t compare to Hina, they were certainly a supporting force in this situation.
Yet, when asked whether they were delivering meaningful strikes, the teacher could only respond that he didn’t know. Reinforcements should have been a cause for joy, but he was skeptical about whether their chances were improving.
Even after taking at least one hit from the black smoke, neither Azusa nor Saori were recovering, and Wakamoo, who had sustained hits multiple times, continued to endure and shoot desperately. It was clear that if things continued, everyone would be caught in the onslaught.
[Using the adult card.]
The teacher was unaware.
Thanks to the time the students bought for Hina to arrive, the price he had to pay was downgraded from an ocean to a mere lake’s worth.
*
[…Everything has gone just as you wanted, Mika. Nagisa has been detained, the Sisterhood has been brought to their knees, and you’ve secured the host position.]
[Yeah, that’s true.]
[That sad expression you just made is nothing more than a pretense.]
[Yes, maybe so.]
…Is this Mika’s memory?
From a third-person perspective, Mika was seen conversing with a woman who could be presumed to be her teacher, sitting at a tea table. The terrace of T-party, which she rarely used, was the backdrop, with the ridiculously long table remaining untouched.
[What do you plan to do from here?]
[Well, who knows… I guess the Eden Treaty is off. I’d rather die than wait and see that.]
[And then?]
[Ahaha! I honestly don’t know. Why, are you worried that I might actually want to take on Gehenna?]
[No. You’re not the kind of girl who’d do that, Mika. I know.]
[…You’re really kind, teacher. Even though I’m betraying your trust, and being so blatant in trying to get close to you again. Yeah, if it were me, I could never do that. Maybe that’s why… adults are different~ and I find myself admiring you☆]
[…]
[But you know. That statement is wrong, teacher. I am a bad child. I can’t stop here. I mustn’t stop. Because if I do, I’ll be left as the witch who drove her friend to death to erase Gehenna, blinded by power and betrayal. So…]
[Mika…]
[It means you were fooled by me. Yeah. For a while, I’ll be in the same predicament as Nagisa, but I think I can manage without discomfort. I’m particularly attentive to that.]
It wasn’t hard to understand the conversation unfolding before my eyes.
Somehow, the real Mika…
Seemed to be a revolutionary rather than a traitor.
[I’m sorry, teacher. I won’t ask you to understand.]
[…]
[Your apologies should be made to the other kids, not to me.]
The eyes of Mika, who succeeded in her revolution, were clearly broken.
