[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 117

Before 6:00 AM, Trinity General School declared a state of emergency martial law across 281 districts.

Per the consensus reached at the Tea Party, the martial law is to be maintained unofficially. After all, it’s confined to the ancient ruins of the Old Capital, where students rarely venture, making it more a precautionary measure to prevent an unspoken crisis.

The Trinity Provisional Military Cabinet must mobilize a force of approximately 7,800 students to carry out the operation. After numerous administrative processes, the decision was made to assign clubs to each military district. Three or four administrative procedures were employed.

From securing non-interference guarantees from Gehenna, the Federal Student Council, and the Black Market to organizing the main force for the “Restoration Operation.”

What forms the backbone of this army? Many students would likely point to figures like Commander Mine. However, let it be said firmly: no matter how many powerful students hold the front lines, they can only follow in the wake of the armored corps.

The Crusader cruiser tank isn’t particularly strong. Its sluggish turret struggles to respond to attacks. A single anti-tank gun hidden in urban terrain could take out dozens of them. In terms of armor, an armored car might even be preferable.

But that “junk heap,” as it’s called, serves one purpose: speed.

Its engine, capable of reaching 70 miles per hour, is its core strength. While it falls short of Hippo-chan’s limits, it’s more than sufficient to execute the plan. Its mobility is beyond what any student could hope to match.

The goal is to break through and disrupt before the front lines escalate. These tanks are easily destroyed by even mystically charged bullets, so the strategy is to avoid combat as much as possible and press forward. The annihilation of encircling forces can be left to the rear units.

“…”

Click. As I entered the meeting room, all eyes turned toward me. Sister Sakura, Commander Mine, and the Tea Party’s administrators. Nagisa-sama and Seia-sama were absent due to personal matters.

The students gathered here are the true power behind the General Staff Headquarters.

As someone who’s been responsible for strategic and tactical planning as the head of the Border Checkpoint, I must have made significant contributions… but I’ve never once thought my insight was exceptional. In the end, I relied on the help of those beret-wearing ladies.

The two commanders handled the mobilization. The Sisterhood’s strength has long been renowned, and the Relief Knights—represented by Serina’s teleportation—are regarded as elite forces. In urban combat, they’re as reliable as artillery.

Since Ritsuko-chan is handling Hippo-chan and is far away, I suppose I’ll have to settle for seeing Sayuri-san here at the Tea Party.

“…Senpai. I’ve always wondered. Why am I still here?”

My junior, cloaked in dark shadows, grumbled. “The honorable commoner of Trinity General School, gathered at the Tea Party”—a mid-tier figure in the Tea Party’s hierarchy, yet she seems to find it hard to escape.

The Pater Faction is busy cleaning up the chaos, and with the expelled members—amusingly, most of whom are delaying their political retirement—there’s a shortage of administrators to fill the gaps. With even the predecessors not returning, they’re pleading with the capable Sayuri-san. 

They’re promising unconditional support if she doesn’t resign—whether out of genuine fear or a slave-like contract, I can’t tell.

“That’s just how the world works,” I replied, drawing on experience.

“But, but, do you know how many documents I have to process daily in place of Mika-sama? It’s enough to measure by the quarter! Honestly, it’s bad enough to report to the Federal Student Council for labor law violations.”

“If you think like that, the Absolute Proxy should be the first one reported.”

What can we do about the Tea Party’s urgent situation? Nagisa-sama, for whatever reason, has me tied down with the title of “Absolute Proxy.” With such a grand justification and her personal appeal, I can’t exactly run away, can I?

My junior, staring at a hopeless world, seemed to have grown cold. Ignoring her, I approached the round table, gazing at the arrows embroidered on the strategic map. …The journey to Arius has already begun.

“…Hikari-san. Will everyone… be alright?”

Sister Sakura expressed her concern. The Sisterhood has mobilized nearly all its members for this operation. Subduing the land of the “heretics” is of great significance to them.

“I’ll take responsibility. Commander, how are the Relief Knights?”

“Most are waiting near the ruins for orders. …It’s about time to move out. Serina’s waiting. I’m sorry, but for the sake of the operation, I’ll take my leave first.”

A club commander—unlike the students gathered at the Tea Party, Commander Mine has taken on the role of leading an actual combat unit. As the star of “Mine breaks, and the Knights fix,” it’s hard to let her rest.

The administrator looked at me as the clock struck 6:00. I dialed the receiver.

[This is Command. Director Tsurugi has already departed.]

[It’s me.]

[Ah, Hikari-sama. Are you issuing the order?]

I shouted with all my might.

[Chief of Staff, our conscience lies here!]

[…Confirmed. Hey! Start the engines—]

***

“Madam. This experiment has failed. Let’s return.”

“Golconde…!”

“My apologies, Sensei. Until next time.”

Sensei watched as the two figures vanished in an instant, struggling to steady legs that threatened to collapse. The “Arius Squad”—four girls… his students, clinging to one another, stood together.

They had defeated Beatrice. They succeeded in rescuing Atsuko before time ran out. …Probably.

He recalled the journey to the Arius Autonomous District. They thought they’d infiltrated secretly through the catacombs, only to be discovered almost immediately. They faced the students of the Arius Branch School, exorcised the ghosts seen in the Cathedral, and then…

…Mika. Trinity’s pitiful princess—Hikari calls her that too, so it’s not exactly a derogatory term—crossed their path. She seemed weighed down by burdens, but hearing the hymn of mercy… no, would she be alright?

He looked at the squad. Saori, Misaki, Hiyori, Atsuko… not one of them was unscathed.

Are you all okay?

“Yeah… I can barely stand.”

“Mm…”

“Is it… is it really over now…?”

Sensei couldn’t instill confidence in the trembling girl. Even if Golconde—a member of Gematria—had taken her away, could they really be trusted? The same ones who kidnapped Hoshino from Abydos?

All he could say was that they were safe for now. No matter how much of a teacher he was, certainty—arrogance—was forbidden.

“Beatrice…”

She escaped.

Yes, that’s the right way to put it.

“She escaped…?”

But she won’t be able to harm you again.

…Because even if this wasn’t the end, Sensei wouldn’t let her get away with it.

This time, Sensei could say with certainty:

Beatrice. You insulted the teacher, the students, us. You insulted teaching, learning. As an adult, I can never forgive you.

Sensei would remember. The “Madam” of the Arius Autonomous District “ruled and dominated”—no, “exploited.”

Under the pretext of being an “adult,” she dominated, exploited, and preyed on “children.” The golden rule of teaching life’s humility was twisted into hollow emptiness. The strict self-reflection meant to guard against corruption was warped into inescapable guilt.

She distorted facts, concealed truths, misrepresented sincerity, incited disgust, fueled hatred, and kept others—others, others, others—forever strangers to one another. A being who could never, ever, ever, ever be forgiven.

Even if she returned beyond her limits, Sensei would not forgive her. She was an adversary he would stop, even at the cost of everything.

“…”

The three girls who heard Sensei’s words fell silent. To think the one who was once their master had become such a monster and ultimately fled.

Tap, tap, tap.

The squad’s “princess,” Atsuko, approached, accompanied by Saori. Thankfully, she seemed to have no trouble walking.

“Thank you, Sensei, for helping us.”

You don’t need to wear the mask anymore?

“…Maybe it’s okay now. I didn’t know why Madam made me wear it… but when I was caught in Azusa’s explosion, there was a protective device that shielded my body. I think the mask was part of its mechanism.”

Empathizing with Atsuko’s memories was difficult. At that moment, Sensei had been shot by Saori and was hovering between life and death.

“So, in the end, Madam made me wear the mask to protect me.”

Then keep wearing it when you need it.

If you get hurt, Atsuko, a lot of people will be sad.

“…”

“Yeah. I don’t think I need to hide my voice anymore… but I’ll keep the mask on sometimes.”

“…Alright. That’s enough, Sensei.”

Saori looked at Sensei. Her eyes, a faint blue, felt endlessly deep… yet calm.

“Now that we’ve saved the princess… it’s enough. You can do whatever you want now.”

Whatever I want…?

“I’m the root of all this… The Eden Treaty incident, the attack on Seia, the attack on Nagisa… Misaki, Hiyori, Atsuko… it’s all because of me.”

“…”

“The Federal Student Council, Trinity, or even the Disciplinary Committee—it doesn’t matter. Send me to wherever you think is most appropriate.”

Sensei felt a wave of shock.

He needed time to think. An adult with years of social experience, a seasoned and idealistic teacher… but still just a human lingering in the twilight of youth. Giving answers to children who’ve lived through Kivotos’s darker side…

It was possible. That’s why he needed time. His mind raced, and after the squad exchanged a few words among themselves.

Schale’s advisor teacher began another lesson.

From beyond the Basilica, the rumble of engines echoed.