[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 118

Passing through the catacomb caves was a truck boldly marked with “HIPPO-CHAN” on its side.

Kawazaki Ritsuko, a first-year student at Trinity General School’s Border Checkpoint. Sure, I’ve been mistaken for a powerholder while hanging around Hikari-senpai all day, but I only briefly served as the acting head of the Checkpoint. I’m just a regular member, really.

Honestly, for girls our age, isn’t the thirst for power kind of a distant concept? Even Yuzuki-chan, we just hang out as friends. Lately, though, I haven’t seen Satsu-chan, and it’s been kind of sad.

Sayuri-san,  the Pater Faction’s administrator—well, she’s practically the big boss now, isn’t she?

Even before joining the Checkpoint, I knew Satsu-chan was something special. She’d always bring up the Tea Party and disappear for outings. Once, she even showed up with Misono Mika, which nearly gave me a heart attack.

Before Senpai’s promotion, Satsu-chan was basically the top dog in the club. I mean, Itsuka-senpai would dump paperwork and tricky complaints on her all the time. Of course, she hated it… hehe.

Anyway, I’m not thrilled with the situation now. The three girls who were like sisters, always together, are all scattered.

When Yuzuki-chan took on the acting head role and was struggling, I was floored—but it was nice because I got to see Senpai more often. Good times. Now, it’s been over a week since I’ve seen her, except on TV.

The last time we were together was that late-night gathering at the Tea Party. They said they were making a “resolution” to take down the Pater Faction’s rebels trying to overthrow the system. I miss those days…

Of course, I get it. Senpai was practically dragged off by Kirifuji Nagisa—someone I didn’t even know by name.

The Tea Party… what kind of place is it, shrouded in mystery, with Hikari-senpai as its leader! Well, not really the leader, but who cares! The point is, Senpai’s made it big. Talk about a meteoric rise.

What’s it like to carry the fancy title of “Absolute Proxy of Trinity General School”? Knowing Senpai, she’s probably fuming. Why’d they drag someone like me, who doesn’t even care, into the Tea Party?

…To be honest, thinking about Senpai’s actions, I can see why people might misunderstand her.

[We’ll reach the catacomb exit shortly. The vanguard should prepare for potential ambushes. Except for the lead self-propelled gun, breaking through the battlefield is the top priority in peacetime conditions. Keep that in mind.]

[Understood. …Uh, the radar shows the exit is blocked. Should we open fire?]

[No, it’s probably something we can push through. Sorry, but you’ll need to ram it with the vehicle. The armored corps can’t afford to wait more than five minutes. The moment a front forms, breaking through gets harder.]

They sure ask for a lot, don’t they? I thought about complaining, but the operator student is more skilled than me, so I held my tongue.

I slammed the accelerator. “HIPPO-CHAN” faithfully executed its mechanical orders, pushing its engine to the limit, and soon a deafening roar followed. The 40-ton vehicle began accelerating rapidly.

Alright, let’s do this! As the operator said, three minutes later, a ramp appeared. It was covered by two stone slabs, but as advised, I decided to just plow through. I lifted my foot off the brake.

SCREEEEECH—!!

The moment the vehicle hit the slabs, I worried if Hippo-chan could handle it. Shiraishi-senpai said it was built tough enough to withstand even a PaK-40, but the screeching metal was so shrill, you know?

Thankfully, my worries were unfounded! The vehicle hesitated for a moment but then pushed the slabs aside.

And then—

BOOM—!

The two slabs were shoved outward and toppled completely, and Hippo-chan, unable to contain its momentum, burst out.

This was… a wasteland.

The heart of the ruins.

“…”

Light.

***

Today is a happy day for the students of the Arius Branch School. It’s the day the food tastes good.

“No Leftovers Day”—a holiday whose origins are long forgotten—means double servings of turnip bread and butter. If you’re buddies with the kitchen crew, you might even snag a few pieces of greasy turnip fries.

Some call it a symbol of the bleak adult world, a sad day exposing the ugly side of capitalism… but those are usually the kids who couldn’t get any fries. Poor, unlucky souls.

Not me. I pride myself on my networking skills, rivaling even the Squad’s, and I scored five pieces of fries.

Befriending the kitchen crew is easy. Just say thanks every time you get your rations for a few weeks and share a spot with good signal for free. Why everyone finds that so hard is beyond me.

I took off my gas mask. Against the backdrop of the old training grounds, I spread turnip butter on turnip-wheat bread. These days, the turnips are high quality and pair well with spinach-coffee. Come to think of it, doesn’t this moment prove the world isn’t so bad?

Standing guard in a deserted corner is miserable, but focusing on the hopeful bits keeps me going.

“…Tastes good.”

I quietly enjoyed the scenery. The kids who suck up to the student council president—she insists on being called Madam—will never know this happiness. It’s a secret only I know in these ruins.

…Now that I think about it, what’s Matsushiro up to? She left for the Trinity Autonomous District for some grand ambition, but back when she was at the Arius Branch School, we were pretty close. Among all my connections, she was one of the closest.

It’s been a couple of months since I last heard from her. Now, I’m just waiting for her to come back.

Things have been feeling off lately. A friend working as a Basilica comms operator told me that a student on a mission at the Sisterhood’s cathedral—those jerks who persecuted us—went missing recently.

Sounds like they got caught. Knowing Trinity’s reputation, I’m worried if they’re even alive.

Even at the isolated Arius Branch School, we’ve got a decent communication network. We can keep up with what’s happening outside. The Federal Student Council President’s disappearance, the arrival of an adult called Sensei…

I haven’t told the other students, but I’m really curious about Trinity. My friends probably share that interest. It’s tough only hearing about the political scene through news, but it’s exciting enough.

The Arius Basilica: the stuff going down at the Tea Party lately is wild… two coups?

The media’s busy praising it as a “patriotic resolution,” but fundamentally, it’s a small-scale civil war. Unlike the Arius civil war the student council president ended a decade ago, this is a serious crisis.

After being expelled from the Council long ago, the Arius Branch School lost its existence. One person became a faction, rejecting others and firing bullets in groups. My childhood is a hellish memory.

When I heard about the Pater Faction, I thought, Ah, Trinity’s finally crumbling. Our revenge is coming.

But one student turned it all around. I don’t know how, but their student council didn’t collapse. What was her name… something meaning “lumen”? She turned everything back.

If the Arius Branch School didn’t exist, the world might’ve been a bit better. The student now called the “Absolute Proxy” seems to have shown Trinity’s strength.

Seven thousand strong—how could they muster such numbers? That’s several times the entire Arius Branch School.

And what happened… we all know.

The Arius Squad failed miserably.

The squad’s leader, Joumae Saori, has gone into hiding.

And our “princess” is about to be devoured, halo and all, by an enraged student council president.

Well… I feel bad for them, but it’s not my problem. With the Arius Branch School crumbling after Trinity’s failed attack, the public’s restless. I’m more worried about finding my own way out.

Some friends predicted a preemptive strike. Sadly… it’s looking likely.

Whatever! As long as I find a way to survive, I’m good.

I tossed the last bite of turnip-wheat bread into my mouth. With nothing else to do, I figured I’d check my gun.

BOOM—!

“…?!”

A massive sound echoed from inside the training grounds. What the—?! Was there an uncleared landmine?

I grabbed my gun, went on alert, and looked around. Moments later, a truck burst out from the entrance. But it wasn’t a normal truck… wait, does Arius even have trucks like that?

SCREECH—

“…What—”

A strange mechanical sound made me look at the truck. The turret on its back—wait, an actual turret?!

I realized too late that its barrel was aimed at me.

“…”

Oh, sh—

BOOM—!

The 6.1inch/55 model.0 roared to life.