[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 102

The next day, as the sun rose, a Tea Party was convened. I declared a grand coalition cabinet with all factions participating.

Under Arisa’s protection, the Sanctus faction pledged full support. Administrator Misuzu still cast suspicious glances, but most Filius administrators backed Nagisa-sama’s proxy.

The support of minor factions was crucial too. Students who were practically independents, with maybe one per faction, could easily flip their allegiance. At least they weren’t trying to impeach me, so that was a relief.

And then… the Pater faction.

Representing the Father, their situation was chaotic. The hardliners who led public opinion were swept away entirely. Naturally, massive confusion followed. They’d lost all their senior administrators.

With no one to represent their cause, a faction convention was inevitable. Debates raged among a few candidates, but nothing substantial emerged. The former faction leader ignored desperate pleas to return and holed up in the comms room.

Since she renounced succession, we had to find the next in line. That was Mio-chan, and our junior threw a massive middle finger at the role.

The Pater faction’s chaos continued.

“Who the hell do we pick?” they cried, but none of the ladies wanted to take full responsibility.

Finally, one administrator stepped up. Instead of each clique nominating candidates, she demanded a completely anonymous vote—write down the name of any friend or senior they thought fit. More chaos ensued.

The students were stunned. Choosing a faction leader with such a baseless voting method? Wouldn’t it just be a popularity contest?

Their voices were swiftly ignored. At 6:10 p.m. yesterday, the Pater faction convention elected its new leader.

“We proclaim Administrator Morishita Sayuri as the next Pater faction leader!”

…Let me be clear: I had zero interest in their election. I didn’t see this coming either.

Right—Sayuri-san, though she left the Tea Party hall, was still a Pater member and eligible for their public office. You should’ve seen the hollow laugh she let out when she got the news.

“Are those lunatics so clueless they can’t tell who’s on their side?! Did they all die in the High Cathedral or what?”

“Calm down, Sayuri-san, calm down. It’s probably because we dragged them along.”

“Still! This is like being a garbage disposal. Just wait, Setsune, you jerk!”

…Our junior was pretty pissed.

She stormed into the Pater faction’s lounge in the Tea Party hall, and actually did. Borrowing my four-gauge shotgun, Sayuri-san negotiated a deal for “an interim term until the academy’s rebuilt.”

She must’ve been quite satisfied, because she bought me a rich cheesecake as thanks for the shotgun.

Hmm, the angrier Sayuri-san gets, the better it seems.

Anyway, I secured some support from the Pater faction. I know most of them look at me warily, but what can they do when their faction leader’s my closest ally? Their fault.

The Justice Task Force didn’t react much. But Tsurugi-senpai and Hasumi-senpai each sent letters.

Hasumi’s was a standard well-wishing note, but Tsurugi-senpai’s…

“Hikari,

You’ll soon learn this academy’s full of people who’ll hate you with everything they’ve got. They won’t let a single mistake slide. Never satisfied. They’ll stab your heart and laugh.

You’ll need grit in the coming weeks. If you want to do anything as Acting Commander, get dirty. Care what others say, but don’t let those bastards force ‘super-Tea Party cooperation’ sacrifices on you. Slam your head against the wall if you have to.”

‘…’

Truly memorable advice. She’s not around now, but I’m grateful to the captain.

I heard the Host’s Guard captain directly ordered support. They’re to reject the “damn Pater jerks’” extremism and resolve the High Cathedral situation. It’s practically a call for revenge, but I agree, so whatever.

The artillery corps and other clubs? Nothing to say. Most are just watching the political scene. NCND—neither confirming nor denying, neither supporting nor criticizing.

The public, as always, barely cares. The academy’s refined ladies are more interested in morning desserts.

With the foundation secured, the transfer of administrative authority went smoothly. A formal ceremony at the Tea Party hall to commemorate the full delegation of power—until now, it was temporary—was unexpected but went well.

Today’s Tea Party resolved significant political unease. With authority delegated to Hanako, I was quite satisfied.

“…And let’s steel ourselves, so that even if Trinity and its branches endure another thousand years, people will look back on this moment and say, ‘This was their finest hour.’”

The applause from the meeting room’s podium felt… pretty good.

***

“What’s the most urgent thing? Mobilization, obviously.”

“Mobilization… no wonder they call it a snake pit.”

The next day.

In the empty Tea Party meeting room, two girls let out long sighs.

Mobilization! Trinity General School, Kivotos’s most prestigious academy, boasts a storied history and a robust bureaucracy. But a perfect system doesn’t mean everything runs smoothly.

The political chaos of the past few days has disrupted everything. Expanding emergency martial law as Acting Commander was seamless, but executing mobilization is lagging.

Most administrators meant to carry this out were caught up in the Pater faction’s rebellion. Some are still in the hospital.

“But now we’ve got Hanako, so things should start moving. I’m counting on you.”

“Do you think I’m some novel’s protagonist? Even I have limits.”

“Just do what you can. If you need faction agreements, call the leaders. If public sentiment wavers, tell me to make a statement. For war efforts, I’d even do a naked dogeza.”

“…Did I hear that right? The great Hikari-san saying that?”

Thanks to someone, I’m learning all sorts of weird stuff. You lunatic.

Tap-tap. I shot Hanako a subtle glance while typing on the typewriter—why do administrators use this relic? Sure, it’s romantic. Whirr—the sound of paper feeding was oddly satisfying.

I glanced at Hanako. The Sisterhood’s Acting Commander was buried in a pile of paperwork. Tough life.

Just so you know, I was in the same boat all morning.

“Sigh… Why do we get requests like this? Cut military spending? Have they forgotten we’re at war?”

“Kids, right? Oh, I heard Sensei gathered students last night. Any news?”

“They’ve been roaming Trinity all night, listening to everyone. Met with the Supplementary Lessons Department, Justice Task Force, and Mika-san. They’re probably at Gehenna Academy now.”

“That guy’s busy too. Alright, let’s focus on our work.”

I stood and started flipping through the phonebook on the wall. One for Gehenna, plus Abydos and those tin-can punks… that’s a lot. Damn, can’t they digitize this?

“Planning to call someone?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve got a sensitive measure in mind.”

“If it’s something I can know, mind telling me who?”

Oh, right.

“Kaiser.”

“Kaiser Corporation… wait, Kaiser Corporation?!”

Yup.

***

“Start mobilization now. We can’t let those black-market bastards underestimate us. If you’re worried, prep missiles. Didn’t they say sixty units are already in production?”

Click.

The ordnance bureau member seemed thrilled by my hardline stance. Gotta sweet-talk engineers, you know.

Leaving Hanako’s worried gaze behind, I dialed Kaiser Corporation’s emergency line from the phonebook’s end. After a few beep-beep tones, a voice answered.

“Kaiser Corporation emergency line. Who’s this?”

“Tea Party hall.”

“…Please hold.”

Clunk.

“What’s up, Acting Commander?”

…President.

“This is a notice. Keep your kids in line.”

“I don’t follow. Care to explain?”

“You know what I mean. We pulled troops from the border. You can at least stop the black market’s brainless punks from poking around.”

“Oh, that. But Kaiser Corporation has no authority to enforce anything on them. Sorry.”

“Is the black market’s shareholder meeting a clown convention?”

—Sigh. I heard the President’s breath. Whatever, I wasn’t changing my tough stance. The black market and Kaiser bear most of the responsibility.

“…That’s harsh.”

“You know why I’m like this. Be glad we’ve tolerated your provocations so far. Don’t think we’re weak just because we shifted our forces to the city. I’m serious—you’ll regret it.”

“Alright, alright. What can I do when you talk like that?”

Get hit by a missile?

“Sigh, finally getting through. I apologize for the rudeness.”

“Giving me grief then offering a cure.”

“You know how it is in this position. Have a good day.”

Click.

I hung up and dialed the senior administrator’s number. Hanako stared, wide-eyed.

“…What?”

“Nothing, just…”

You’re nuts.

Hanako crossed a line.