[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 53

“Faction Leader Misono detained for investigation, Captain Yamatsu appointed Investigation Headquarters Chief and Lockdown Commander… huh. The Samil Daily’s been on fire lately, don’t you think? Honestly, they’re leagues above Chronos. What do you think, Mika-sama?”

“…Interesting. Not exactly thrilled as the person in question, though.”

“That’s just how people are. I’m not thrilled either. I’m banged up all over.”

Two days later.

In a room called a confinement cell but resembling a fancy club lounge, I was having a one-on-one “date” with Mika-sama. When I tossed her the newspaper, she caught it with a flick, seemingly intrigued.

Is she really intrigued? Mika-sama straightened up and began reading the paper intently.

Most of the socialite girls who idolize the Pater faction leader might tell me, “Professor Yamatsu, savor this glorious moment,” but, well, I’m not exactly happy about it.

What’s this “Investigation Headquarters Chief” title? It’s the Tea Party dumping busywork on me to handle and report. It’s like the joint investigation teams with Valkyrie Police Academy that pop up every time a scandal breaks.

The problem is, I’m no good at investigations! I’m neither a humanities nor a science major—I’m a martial arts grad! My expertise is cracking down on punks causing trouble in the city border!

Knowing that better than anyone, I begged Nagisa-sama to let me clean the main building instead.

Got shot down in three seconds flat. She said no one matches me for political neutrality in investigations. I asked if we could pass it to Eclaire-senpai, but that was swiftly rejected too. Lightning-fast denial.

This is hell, pure hell.

“Mika-sama, why did you really start the rebellion? Did you think it’d succeed?”

“It wasn’t a rebellion, more like… a revolution vibe.”

“Same thing… anyway. Why a revolution? Why risk your faction leader title for it?”

“I told you two days ago, Hikari-chan. Because I hate Gehenna.”

I hate you most when you say stuff like that, Mika-sama.

“So you thought it’d succeed? I thought you’d consulted a fortune-teller or something.”

“No fortune-telling, but a girl’s intuition, you know? Like, poof, I felt I could change the world.”

“That’s not a reason. Change the world? Look outside, it’s the same as ever. You should’ve believed Eden would change things. Peacefully.”

“…That won’t do, Hikari-chan.”

Mika-sama finally got serious, folding the newspaper and locking eyes with me.

“Is that what the world’s like, Hikari-chan? Is Trinity all peaceful and ladylike? A place where school violence runs rampant, faction members breed hatred, and you’re ostracized just for political beliefs? If you really think that, I’ve got nothing to say.”

“That’s not what I meant. But someone who abandoned historical grounds and the Pater faction’s political base saying that leaves me speechless.”

“Fine. I’ll stay quiet, so say what you want, Hikari-chan.”

“As you said, Trinity’s rotten. Arrogant, oblivious to what lurks beneath the Cathedral. It struts like it’s the only student body in the world, destined to collapse.”

“…”

“I’m skeptical too. Like you said, can Eden or peaceful methods really change the centuries-long Trinity-Gehenna feud? But here’s the thing—I’m just as skeptical of your methods, Mika-sama.”

“You think it’s hard to believe I just wanted to get cozy with Arius? I’m Misono Mika, the Tea Party’s wild princess who tried to kill Seia-chan for no reason.”

“If that princess really existed, you wouldn’t be a faction leader. If I asked why you started a revolution, you’d just swallow your anger. The Mika-sama I saw two days ago wasn’t that princess. She was a meticulous, secretive, capable administrator. And I think that person’s still in your head.”

“Why?”

“Because you told me about Trinity’s contradictions yourself.”

Trinity’s a contradictory academy. Everyone knows it, and most students agree.

It prides itself as Kivotos’ largest academy, but lately, that pride’s gone overboard. What used to be rampant among socialite girls now infects regular students too.

Pride is pride, but it doesn’t add up. Seeing those who believe in Him swallow the original sin as their main vice brings sighs, not laughter.

Why? Because, like it or not, they’re part of the same academy as me.

“If there’s truth in the world, it’s the commandments and scriptures made by the Savior. Others might not agree, but well, I want to shout it: The truth shall set us free.”

“Suddenly mimicking the Sisterhood? Hikari-chan, no matter how badly I got beat up, that day’s events wouldn’t give me trauma.”

“No trauma, but didn’t it spark some doubts? Everyone has their own truth. I think the truth you held about Arius crumbled overnight.”

“That’s definitely not true, Hikari-chan.”

Mika-sama cut me off, then stopped herself, and the conversation paused. Not knowing her mental state, I decided to respect her more.

The faction leader seemed to be recalling a sad memory.

“…It crumbled a long time ago.”

***

“Is your body okay? I heard you were in the hospital for a full day.”

“Almost healed. I should ask you, Nagisa-sama. I heard you took a whole magazine of five rounds up close—that could lead to infection without treatment.”

“Serina from the Relief Knights took care of it properly. I’m almost fully recovered. I gave her a small gift as thanks.”

Formal, but half-sincere, conversations.

There was good reason for it. Two days ago, during the final charge after blowing the whistle, I got hit square by building debris from a bombardment, breaking my halo. I don’t remember anything past a certain point in the battle.

Legally, that’s worse than insubordination, so the kids driving the Caesars were terrified. But I’m their captain—would I punish them? After a big dinner, their faces lit up.

Today, I met Nagisa-sama as the Investigation Headquarters Chief to report. I handed her a brief report.

The interrogation of Mika-sama will take a few more days to go public. I tried to speed it up, but she’s been so uncooperative, there’s no helping it.

I’m not handling the Arius faction investigation. The Tea Party Hall has a… somewhat trustworthy intelligence department. We nagged for some work, and they tossed us a chunk, so their admin now calls me “big sis.”

Even after Mika-sama’s investigation ends, the Arius probe will continue. Gotta know something to do something.

“We plan to officially lift the security lockdown at 5 p.m. Of course, per your wishes, administrators are already moving freely, but there’s the issue of canon law. It’s a bit late.”

“I understand. Any need to screen media or academies for the press conference?”

“Not really. Plenty of media are interested in Trinity’s internal issues, but none are directly involved. Most will report objective facts.”

“Understood. Let’s conclude today’s report. Anything else to say, Hikari?”

Nagisa-sama savored her tea slowly. I feel bad, but I’ve got a lot to say today.

“The Host may need to prepare. It hasn’t been reported, but this incident suggests a serious security threat to the Tea Party Hall. It might be bigger than we think.”

“I’m concerned about that too. With the Eden Treaty so close, this happened.”

“The intelligence department proposed a theory: an organized, focused rebellion network might be forming. I see it as an ‘invisible threat.’”

“A rebellion network… meaning we’re their target?”

“For the Arius faction, maybe. But there’s something you should keep in mind, Nagisa-sama.”

I set down my teacup, stood, and paced around her.

“Of course, they might see us as the bad guys. Objectively, we’re subtly oppressive, authoritarian, and full of arrogant ladies. For whatever reason, we’re practically mortal enemies to Arius.”

“Then what should we…”

“But!”

I raised a finger, emphasizing my point to Nagisa-sama. A bit rude, maybe.

“But, Nagisa-sama, we’re not some evil empire from a subculture story. They think their resistance is a matter of life or death, and that our system will die if it doesn’t change. But Trinity’s system is always evolving. We’re not incompetent. We don’t chase personal gain in the face of enemies or forget our karma.”

Oh, Nagisa-sama almost spit out her tea. Curious.

“Trinity roughly knows its flaws. The good thing is, we’re trying to fix them. They and we both have fundamental rights, and they’ll shake all of Kivotos to seize ours.”

“Sounds like we can easily neutralize their rebellion.”

“No, it’ll be tough. Really tough. But they’ll also have to pour everything into toppling a system that’s lasted half a millennium. And… in the end, we should win.”

“Will there be a war?”

“No, war’s not needed. I don’t even consider it. I’m a pacifist.”

I sat back down, giving Nagisa-sama a faint smile. She returned an awkward one.

“And I’m preparing for war to keep the peace.”