[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 69

Hayashi Rinko knows her abilities well. She’s always lingered in the upper-mid tier at the Branch.

She underwent the same training as other students, but even she doesn’t think she poured her all into forging herself day after day. Borrowing Madame’s words, the lack of an “exceptional” mystique in her nature surely plays a part.

Once, a blonde girl lived with a gas mask in hand, but she’s still only granted the right to use a grenade launcher. Madame seems interested in her but never shows it.

Rinko doesn’t know why. Nor has she tried to find out.

Rather than seeking enlightenment, she prefers to climb upward with one powerful strike. The girl threw herself into being a communications operative.

Infiltrating any communication room is a highly dangerous choice. Transmitting sensitive information to the main school is easily exposed. Given the nature of the role, getting caught often means a grim fate.

In this regard, the Sisterhood’s setup is the worst. Located in the heart of the Cathedral, the overseer Miaki is a key figure in Sakurako’s network. The unexpected fact that only two students handle communications right after joining added fuel to an already burning house.

Rinko thought to herself:

Am I screwed?

When suspicion arose within the Sisterhood, the fact that there were only two suspects hit hard. Between Miaki, who has the solid alibi of the Mother Superior, and herself, it’s obvious who’d be dragged away.

The students who stayed at Arius Branch might actually be safer. It’s practically a death sentence with a ticking clock. Hayashi Rinko had to accept that working here wasn’t for Madame but to protect her own fragile lifeline.

It took weeks to shake off the anxiety.

The Sisterhood’s counterintelligence was far worse than she’d expected. Not a single listening device? No one noticed her sending classified info to the main school every dawn. Maybe they didn’t even care to know.

Bunch of idiots.

Life in the communication room was a streak of luck. Far from being exposed, she’s earned Miaki’s trust. The Chapel keeps sending orders to continue transmitting secrets, acknowledging her value.

The sliver of anxiety she once felt has long faded into the back of her mind. No need to waste brainpower on it. Until Madame orders her back to the Chapel, they’ll never know she was here.

That’s what she thought—until she met the girl waiting outside the door.

Click.

The girl tossed Rinko a freshly chambered buckshot round.

Her instincts screamed not to catch it, but her trained hands grabbed it effortlessly.

“You catch well. Trained, even for a communication room job. Quick reflexes straddle talent and effort, don’t they?”

“It’s talent. I’ve never been trained.”

“Is that so? Everyone’s talents differ. Fair enough.”

The girl—Yamatsu Hikari—didn’t look convinced.

She acted as if she knew exactly what Rinko was up to. Calm but not warm, her gaze scanned Rinko like she was sizing up prey. It seemed she’d come prepared, having caught wind that Rinko was an Arius Branch student—a juicy lead.

How many have met the head of the Border Checkpoint this close? Plenty, probably, but Rinko might be the first in the Sisterhood. A spy from Arius Branch making history—kind of ironic.

“No idea why you’re here. You said we’d talk, but barging in like this doesn’t seem like a chat. Both the Chief and I have plenty to do.”

“You saying that leaves me speechless, Rinko. Don’t embarrass me.”

Yamatsu Hikari smiled casually, pulling a chair closer to Rinko. A pendant dangled from her hand. Noticing Rinko’s glance, she let it slip from her fingers.

A silver, crude metal pendant. Plain, glinting faintly under the incandescent light—a skull shape.

Hayashi Rinko knew its owner.

“…Matsushiro.”

“Oh, a familiar name. I’m delighted.”

Was she genuinely pleased to be closer to her desired answer? Yamatsu Hikari handed over her friend’s keepsake like it was nothing. The sound of the silver chain was like dog tags, making Rinko grimace.

Rinko stared at the pendant, warmed by her hand. She imagined it stained red.

Of course, it wasn’t physically so—

But could they have wiped off the blood?

Doubts and suspicions swirled. Why did she hand over this pendant? Was it just to gauge Rinko’s reaction, to confirm she’s from Arius Branch? A simple test of her suspicions?

“They say a student died at the Checkpoint.”

“Sorry, what?”

“A student being investigated at the Checkpoint died. They were from Arius Branch.”

A reporter had come with suspicious questions, Miaki said. She heard it while summoned to the Mother Superior. The chance of it being a lie was slim—Mother Superior wasn’t one for pranks.

Was Matsushiro the subject of last night’s rumor? Rinko hoped not, but if true—did she die? The last time they met, Matsushiro bragged about being assigned to the Border Checkpoint by Madame, a shining light in that bleak Branch—her old friend?

“Matsushiro was my friend. This pendant was precious to her. Why do you have it, Captain?”

“Who knows? I just ended up with it.”

“…Captain, this might be rude, but is Matsushiro alive?”

“I’ve never broken a Halo, Rinko.”

Hayashi Rinko thought the girl’s answer was a lie that wasn’t a lie. Beyond Trinity, how many students would confess to being a killer? Even among Arius Branch students, murderers are rare.

Her specific mention of not breaking a Halo stood out. You don’t need to shatter a Halo to kill. Lock someone in a sweltering room, crush their skull—

Or drown them for hours.

“…What do you expect me to make of that?”

“That’s up to you, Rinko. Trinity doesn’t care what you claim. Only what comes next.”

“You haven’t even gotten to the point. Is this a threat? I’ll ask again: Is Matsushiro alive?”

Yamatsu Hikari didn’t answer.

Killer—Yamatsu Hikari, in my mind, silently agreed.

“You murderer… How did you kill Matsushiro?”

“A reporter barged into the Checkpoint asking the same thing. ‘Heard a student died under investigation, is it true?’ Sounded like they heard it from the Intelligence Chief. So, Rinko, what do you think I said?”

“I’m asking how you killed my friend. Answer the question.”

She drew the pistol from her holster. She wanted to grab the grenade launcher, but it wasn’t loaded, and firing it in a cramped building was suicide. Luckily, the pistol was fully loaded.

Unfazed, Yamatsu Hikari didn’t even blink. No ambushers were nearby, but did she have some ace up her sleeve? Smiling, she pulled out a shotgun shell.

An unfamiliar gauge. Come to think of it, the shell she tossed was terrifyingly thick—bigger than a gloved thumb. One direct hit would leave scars. Did Matsushiro take one of those?

“You know what that pendant means, don’t you? That’s why you’re so hostile. You think I know.”

“Yeah. Seems like it’s all out in the open, so no need to hide. I know the Arius Branch symbol.”

“Finally, the truth comes out. Good. Thanks for saving me the trouble of subduing you for a statement. I’ll show some sincerity in return.”

Yamatsu Hikari stood, eyeing Rinko, who aimed the pistol at her stomach. Her red eyes narrowed.

“Rinko, our prison’s full of new students. Caught when Mika-sama caused that mess. Some might be your friends. Don’t you miss them?”

“…They were ready to die.”

“Then wasn’t Matsushiro ready too? Why are you so angry about her death?”

“Don’t talk about Matsushiro—!”

Startled by my reaction, the girl stepped back.

“Shouting at night? You’ll get in trouble. Don’t you know how scary the Cathedral is?”

“How could you… kill Matsushiro, a student…? You, who’ve mercilessly slaughtered us before, how can you be so calm…? Even after centuries, it’s no different from what’s written in the scriptures…”

“…Hey, Arius. Don’t tarnish Trinity’s honor.”

You think you’re qualified to say that?

Trinity’s honor? A place that brutally suppressed us for opposing the alliance, used us as cannon fodder, stole our Chapel, and killed some of our students—how can that Trinity speak of honor?

To Arius, who’s sought revenge, survived humiliation, and carried on—how dare you.

You, Yamatsu Hikari, who accepts murder—breaking Halos—like it’s nothing. The Checkpoint, whose blood-stained hands don’t even think to wash. You, who killed Matsushiro—do you have honor?

Is this what Trinity always was? A place that looks like a proud academy for haughty girls but is rotten inside, a prison for the weak where the elite casually oppress, assault, and kill?

If a key Tea Party official says this, can I assume it’s not an exception?

“Arius, I’ll give you a choice. Cooperate with the Tea Party. Tell us what you know.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I’ll have to make you cooperate.”

A choice without freedom. An ultimatum for a branded heretic.

“Doesn’t sound like I have a choice. I’m not joining or getting caught by the bastards who killed my friend.”

“You think you can escape Trinity? This is the city center.”

“I think I can at least take you down and get out of the Cathedral.”

“…Alright then.”

The P320 has 17 rounds. Even she wouldn’t walk away unscathed from a dozen 9mm bullets. If possible, I need to subdue her with a grenade or her own shotgun and escape. If a firefight breaks out, the noise will wake the Sisterhood students. I’ll need to flee before they come or, worst case, find an excuse for her unconscious body.

I have to consider every option. It’s sudden and absurd, but I can’t get caught.

Yamatsu Hikari didn’t raise her shotgun. She held the shell toward me. What could she do with a single round, without even firing?

Did she call for backup and stage this standoff? I’m not falling for it. I slipped my finger onto the P320’s trigger and squeezed. I felt the hammer strike the primer.

“—Forward flashbang!”

“…?!”

Unexpectedly, she struck the shell’s primer with a pen. The propellant ignited, and light burst from the shell—

No, not just the shell. A massive flash and boom enveloped me.

“…!! …!”

Stagger, stagger.

—I can’t see anything.

What the hell, a flashbang?

Who uses a flashbang in a shotgun?!