[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 65

The letter Hanako sent was incredibly long. It felt like she put a lot of effort into it.

It resembled the format of academic papers circulating in the Tea Party, but if I had to pick something similar, it’d be the Strategic White Paper published weekly by the Intelligence Office. How Hanako got hold of this format is a mystery, though.

Fortunately, the sources of information Hanako used didn’t seem to go beyond what I provided. Things like the list of Sisterhood document handlers or the location of their archives were probably already known to her.

When you think about it, she’s a student who defies common sense.

How many students could casually spill classified information and still be convincing? I’d bet you could count them on one hand in all of Kivotos. And in the vast expanse of Trinity General Academy, it’s definitely just Hanako.

“It’s quite an intriguing scenario. Even if we accept applying the concept of ‘Trinity’s traitor’ to the Sisterhood, completely ruling out Gehenna Academy…”

“Hanako-san must have her reasons. I didn’t think highly of Gehenna either. The Pandemonium Society might be one thing, but the Prefect Team would know the risks of infiltrating the cathedral all too well. The Prefect Team leader isn’t so foolish as to lack discernment.”

“Looking at this document, I have no more to say about Hanako-san’s abilities… But, Hikari-san, is this really okay?”

“You worry too much, Nagisa-sama. If you’re that uneasy, I’ll make you a promise. If Hanako-san causes a security incident, I’ll personally apprehend and interrogate her. Luckily, the Checkpoint has plenty of cells.”

“Lucky… is it?”

Of course, Host Kirifuji Nagisa.

I trust Urawa Hanako completely, don’t I?

There are two main reasons I trust Hanako so much. First, I believe she could strut through any academy’s streets in a swimsuit without a care. Second, it’s about matters like this—classified information.

Hanako takes serious things seriously. She’s clear about separating work and personal matters.

I like that about her. Working in a rigid society, you can’t help but prefer juniors who know what to say or do and what to avoid. Surprisingly, Hanako’s pretty good at keeping to those boundaries.

The problem, if you could call it that, is she walks a tightrope on that line.

The letter’s contents generally outlined a single scenario. In summary, it claimed that students from an anti-cathedral faction had infiltrated the Sisterhood. Connecting it to recent events, it also gave high probability to the involvement of the Arius Branch School.

“The Arius Branch School… Didn’t they vanish after Mika-san’s coup?”

“That’s why we don’t know how big they are. The Intelligence Office was itching to scour the catacombs for answers. They might be twice the size of the forces used in the coup.”

“At the time of the coup, 172 Arius Branch School students were arrested. That’s equivalent to a battalion in the Justice Task Force. Of course, most Arius students probably didn’t participate in the coup, so factoring that in… it could easily be a four-digit number, Hikari-san. Assuming my calculations are correct.”

“Pfft, you sound like you’re hoping they’re wrong, Nagisa-sama.”

In a way, I’m hoping for the same. It’s depressing that my own calculations came to a similar conclusion.

If there’s a student who wants a hostile group of thousands, I’ll say it outright:

They’re either a lunatic or a spy!

A group of over a thousand students is practically a small academy in itself. Most well-known academies in Kivotos have thousands of students. Trinity, Millennium, and Gehenna, with their five-digit numbers, are the exceptions.

Of course, Red Winter, which is creeping toward six digits, is full of absolute lunatics.

Regardless, the Arius Branch School’s existence is more than unsettling for the Tea Party—it’s practically a source of distrust. There’s no way to know how deeply those damned kids have rooted themselves across Trinity General Academy.

When I was working as the head of the investigation bureau, Mika-sama once said that with her connection severed, the Arius Branch School was no longer a threat. Even if it was, the Justice Task Force could handle it.

The statements about the mysterious Arius Squad raised a lot of questions, but she was adamant.

I don’t agree. The Eight-Member Committee reached a similar conclusion. The Intelligence Office’s inspection reports showed that while Trinity General Academy’s serious security threats were being addressed, they still had significant impact.

I’m concerned that other students are dismissing worries about the Arius Branch School. Unlike Mika-sama’s claims, I believe they’re still receiving support and have the capacity to attack Trinity.

I don’t understand why other students act like everything’s back to normal.

Hmm.

The coup was strictly a Tea Party matter. No, in a way, it doesn’t even qualify as a power struggle. Misono Mika, the head of the Pater faction, abandoned Pater to seize power. Her failure cost her even her original authority.

There are more students living around the main building than you’d think, thanks to the dormitories scattered across Trinity’s city center. Some must have witnessed the nighttime battles, so why isn’t there a single post about it in the community?

The answer’s simple: they don’t care. They’re more interested in the next day’s tea party with friends.

Political apathy is growing both inside and outside the Tea Party’s walls. Students outside dismiss the coup as no big deal. The administrators inside turned their eyes away from Arius long ago.

Why? Because Mika-sama, the key figure in the incident, guaranteed it?

No, that can’t be. Mika-sama’s political acumen only became evident after the coup, and Pater’s senior administrators haven’t always fully trusted her word. That’s not it.

Then, is it simply because the Arius Branch School’s traces have vanished? But I—and more importantly, the Intelligence Office—know they’re still active, yet even they’ve been neglecting Arius. Why?

If this is a social phenomenon, why don’t I agree with it? What’s the lingering instability?

I don’t know.

“…” I’m uneasy.

“Nagisa-sama… Do you trust me?”

“Huh? Yes, I trust you, Hikari-san. I’m not sure why you’re suddenly asking.”

“No, it’s nothing. Just… a thought.”

I’m on the verge of questioning myself.

Is this just my own paranoia?

Or perhaps, after witnessing these damned incidents from the front lines for weeks, have I caught the same disease?

In subcultures, scholars who predict crises are always scorned. Their opinions are rarely respected.

Right now, I feel like one of them. The problem is, I’m not confident in my own claims.

Am I right?

“I might be too exhausted. Hanako-san’s letter proves something’s going on in the Sisterhood, supporting my claims, but… I’m not certain. Everyone I meet seems so peaceful.”

“You’re definitely worn out, Hikari-san.”

“Nagisa-sama, I’m no warmonger. Yet right now, I feel like I believe in war with Arius more than anyone in Trinity. I feel like the ultimate source of unease. What is this? Alienation?”

“No, Hikari-san. You might have learned too much too quickly. You’re confused because your world and everyone else’s are so different.”

“Maybe it’s the world I’ve lived in.”

Nagisa-sama called an attendant to refill my empty teacup.

Steam rose from the freshly brewed tea.

I don’t know if it was the moisture from the steam tickling my nose, but it felt like Nagisa-sama was speaking.

At the very least, her eyes were saying:

Take a break.

I nodded and silently sipped the tea.

It was bitterly foul.

***

“How are you feeling? Has your head cleared a bit?”

“Yes, I feel much more at ease than before. Who knew a short tea break could be so helpful? Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After about half an hour, my head started functioning again.

I decided to push my worries to the back of my mind. Eden is approaching, something’s bound to happen, and stopping it is my job and current goal. With a pile of paperwork waiting, I don’t have time for useless worries.

I needed to discuss with Nagisa-sama how to handle Hanako’s letter. Publicizing it to the press is obviously out of the question, and I think it should be handed to the Sisterhood.

“The Sisterhood probably won’t react well. Especially since the Arius Branch School is designated as heretical.”

“We’ll have to hope Sakurako-sama takes it well. She’s quite flexible, after all.”

“I think we should inform the Intelligence Office first. There’s no information a counterintelligence agency shouldn’t know. I trust you’ll handle it well, Hikari-san.”

“Understood. I’ll contact the Intelligence Director.”

Though in the end, it’ll just be a few lines on MomoTalk and a file.

It was about an hour or two later when things were wrapped up. I decided I’d take responsibility for visiting the cathedral again. At this rate, I might be the student who’s met Sakurako-sama the most in the Tea Party. I should set a record before graduating.

I hope Hanako’s letter helps the Sisterhood significantly. Even if they’re a different faction, we’re part of the same academy and administration. If it’s confirmed that the spies are from the Arius Branch School, it’ll give us a reason to rearm before Eden.

“I’ll probably head to the cathedral this afternoon or tomorrow morning. I’ve got some things to handle…”

“I understand. Please contact me after meeting Sakurako-san.”

“Via MomoTalk, right?”

“Of course. We haven’t added each other on MomoTalk yet, have we? Here’s my contact.”

A direct line to the host—exciting… not really. It’s only good for bragging.

Phew. After a deep sigh, I feel much lighter. Why should I care if other kids are cluelessly wandering around? I just need to do my job and prepare properly.

After exchanging contacts with Nagisa-sama, it was time to leave. I downed the last drops of tea and offered a formal handshake. The host gladly accepted.

“Hikari-san, remember: I trust you.”

“If Nagisa-sama trusts me, what do I have to fear? Haha. Have a good day, Nagisa-sama.”

“I hope you do too.”

Thinking about it, what was supposed to be a quick meeting with Nagisa-sama turned into something like a life counseling session. Oh well, what does it matter?

As long as the outcome’s good.

I left the Tea Party. The bright sky enveloped my red eyes. Feeling good made the sky seem even clearer.

Keep it up, Hikari. Payday’s coming soon!