[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 145

“I understand your words, Sensei, but I’m in a difficult position to carry them out.”

Emotionally, I’m in a similar spot. It doesn’t conflict with the efforts I’ve made for Trinity, but it’s awkwardly tangled. Is it worth convincing the Tea Party for?

Blood was spilled. Trinity’s wounded students shed blood and fired at the usurpers.

There’s no original sin in children—pardon from a humanitarian perspective, nice words. If viewed as intentional leniency, it’d be comparable to the “Great Nagisa-sama,” who pushed the Eden Treaty to avoid watching the mounting casualties from ongoing skirmishes.

But does the world run on hope? Trinity, as a victim, finds it hard to accept. How thrilled would radical girls be to hear “pardon” instead of “dismissal”?

“It’s said, ‘If someone strikes your cheek, offer the other, and devote yourself to others.’”

“…Hikari?”

“The Sisterhood cites such verses, claiming all people are children deserving salvation, so we have a duty to serve. But the funny thing is their relationship with Gehenna Academy.”

It’s a well-known fact among the religious that the secular world clouds the mind. Does politics count?

“Those friends fought fiercely over the Eden Treaty too. Some sisters dislike watching Red Winter Federal Academy’s wannabe People’s Democracy armband-wearers more than anything.”

“…”

“And the Arius Branch… or Military Administration? A good number of the girls protesting in front of the Tea Party are sisters, aren’t they?”

One way or another, we’re buried in realistic emotions. The Sisterhood diligently serves “Trinity’s children,” while the political sphere—the Tea Party—chases profit at all costs. The Relief Knights… well, they’re pure people.

“There are many students opposing the Arius Branch.”

“Don’t worry. There are just as many supporting Nagisa-sama. It’ll be tough, but if Nagisa-sama issues an emergency pardon, some might flip and start praising Arius. There’s a derogatory term for those people, but even with my head cracked… what was it? Even with opposition, the Tea Party can overcome it. If push comes to shove, they might declare martial law to prevent violence, a rather extreme method.”

So, the issue is,

“How do we redirect—or rather, circumvent—the responsibility placed on Arius Branch students?”

I smiled with narrowed eyes.

Their responsibility, at its core, can be attributed to “Beatrice,” the student council president, who coerced them. From what’s been revealed—Nagisa-sama probably knows more than I do—her educational policies were the cause.

It’s shameful, but Trinity, too, has widespread hatred, contempt, anger, and disgust… lies and deception exploiting those emotions.

Golden words teaching life’s humility are twisted into hollow vanity,

Strict introspection guarding against corruption is warped into inescapable guilt,

Distorting facts, concealing truth, misrepresenting sincerity, fostering disgust, inciting hatred, and forever making others, others, others, others, eternal strangers.

Quite the gem of a curriculum, isn’t it? Nothing but negative stories.

As someone who’s overturned the Tea Party, I swear, if such content is discussed in Trinity’s new educational policy, I won’t stand idly by. I’ll personally bring in the Border Checkpoint and artillery to drive out those trying to stir petty emotions in students.

Protecting the constitution has limits. Laws preserving society’s basic order are worth upholding, but enforcing nonsensical clauses is no different from suicidal alignment with evil.

“Since it’s coerced hatred, can’t we redirect it elsewhere? Just a small idea of mine.”

“It’s your heart speaking, Hikari… but personally, not as Schale, I’d be really grateful if you did.”

Schale, the Federal Investigation Club, holds extralegal authority. Even without Sensei’s influence, the club itself can interfere in academy politics—like stopping Trinity’s annexation of Arius.

I’m grateful you put down your easily wielded spear to speak as an adult facing a student. Unlike rumors, you’re a rational man.

“The Arius students and their pardon… I’ll try. I’ll talk to Nagisa-sama. It might not work, or she might have the opposite opinion. Attempting the plan could lead to unexpected chaos.”

“Hikari, I’m sorry—”

“So I hope it’s worth it, Sensei. I’ll do my utmost to avoid failure. And please keep this in mind: their responsibility hasn’t vanished.”

Redirect the target of responsibility—to whom? Luckily, Trinity has plenty of good friends. From the Eden Treaty Incident or before, there are those we’ve got grudges against for big and small wrongs. Haha, why not take on a bit more burden?

Sensei, briefly startled by my sudden response, soon flashed a handsome—come on, it’s true—smile and expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you, Hikari. Sincerely.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“But I ask you, please don’t let Schale interfere with Trinity and Arius’s future actions. I’ve got a few plans in mind. …Of course, those kids won’t get a single scratch.”

“Got it. Thanks again.”

Haha.

I’m the one deeply indebted.

***

“So what’s going on? Why would the Military Governor summon me… Is there a policy change or something?”

The Senior Administrator’s expression was half curiosity, half anxiety. Days have passed since the Arius Military Administration was established, but the Arius administrators working at the Basilica are still swamped. It’s simple: there’s no one to replace them.

Half the students from the old Arius Branch days have left. Of those remaining, only about a dozen have clerical skills, and fewer than ten administrators were dispatched from Trinity’s city center.

Oh, what a pity, an unavoidable pity! Just a few more months of slaving away, folks.

Regardless of their situation, the Senior Administrator’s reaction is understandable. I’ve never called her for a one-on-one meeting before. To be precise, I was too focused on resolving internal and external issues to even think of it.

Would I call a quietly working girl to scold her for doing her job well? When I’m busy winning over public sentiment?

“Can you transfer all documents and artifacts from the Basilica archives and vaults to the Military Administration’s possession within two days? And we need to digitize all documents originally preserved by the Arius Branch. As quickly as possible.”

“…In two days? Your Excellency, that’s impossible even if we work 24 hours straight.”

Pouting or dumbfounded, the girl puffed out her cheeks. But as the Military Governor, effectively acting for the absent Arius student council president, and with the Senior Administrator being the highest-ranking student in the administration, she’s in no position to argue.

“Then make it possible. If there’s no way, split into two teams: one for the most recent documents, one for the oldest, in that order. Oh, and focus on moving and digitizing documents over artifacts.”

“That’s absurd.”

Oh, an unguarded mumble lacking decorum.

“I’ll grant you full authority. I’ll spare no support. Need manpower? Conscript as many as you want. If it’s still impossible, tell me. I’ll bring administrators from the Trinity Autonomous District myself.”

“…”

“Lastly, check and report on the overall safety of the archives and vaults. We might need to expand them.”

The girl seemed at a loss for words at my concise and “lawful” orders. It was necessary to flesh out the plan I’d been thinking about since my talk with Sensei. With city restoration starting, we should protect documents and artifacts too, right?

“I’ll likely have to leave soon. Not for a day or two, but at least a week. I’ll be traveling to Trinity and several other places, so just keep that in mind.”

“Uh, uh… Does that mean I have to go with you, Your Excellency? Just curious.”

What?

“You’ll stay here, Senior Administrator. You’ll act as the Military Governor’s proxy in my absence. If you get bored, give me a call. I’ll invite you to Gehenna’s Prefect Team.”

Their personalities are opposites, but it’d be fun. If push comes to shove, I’ll take a photo for leverage.

The girl looked at me with disappointed eyes, then paled at the mountain of documents slightly taller than her below-average height. It reminds me of Sayuri-chan during my Proxy days… Ugh, sudden trauma from that 15-hour all-nighter.

Something big is coming to Trinity General Academy soon. Probably not just one or two things, but maybe on par with the Eden Treaty Incident, just a small thought. It’s bound to be significant.

I’ve been in contact with Nagisa-sama, Sakurako-sama, and others all night. Well… here we go again.

“…Ugh. When can I resign?”

“Your Excellency? What do you mean? If you quit, I’ll have to take on everything!”

“That’s true.”

…That’s annoying.

“Don’t call me ‘Your Excellency’ anymore. One Host is enough.”

“Got it, Your Excellency.”

…This is driving me crazy.

The girl’s eyes sparkled even more.

***

“Finally, I found them!”

Why was it so hard?!