[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 160

Trinity’s metropolis is dazzling, but no area feels as metropolitan as D.U.’s downtown.

Sanctum Tower, standing like a modern Babel piercing the horizon, anchors the economic hegemony. With the metropolitan railway, you can reach anywhere in an hour—a transport revolution.

I should’ve come to buy cocoa ingredients or maintenance parts, not for this inter-club collaboration project.

Ogata Kanna… a somewhat famous figure among public security organizations. I don’t live in D.U., so I can’t say for sure, but she’s probably known among citizens too. Online communities call her—what was it?—Valkyrie’s Mad Dog.

Among the schools under the General Student Council’s Defense Office, she’s among the most capable, but the problem is “capable” only goes so far. Objectively, Valkyrie’s reputation lags far behind the Justice Task Force or Border Checkpoint.

Oh, should we exclude ourselves? Sad, but most students don’t even know we exist.

Anyway, a document titled “support request” arrived. It’s rare for Trinity’s public security club to collaborate externally, but since Gehenna relations improved, reducing defense burdens, Nagisa-sama approved it.

Right, Nagisa-sama. Yesterday, I was summoned to the Tea Party to meet her. She had many questions, as expected.

She started with formal praise for my efforts across two roles, then asked why I chose the drastic step of resignation. She wished I’d at least told her beforehand—it tugged at my heart.

She gave me a gift. My salary, raised during my Proxy tenure, would stay, and she said to wear the uniform if I wanted—though I didn’t quite get that part.

I protested, pale, saying the Checkpoint Director role was enough, but it didn’t work.

“It means Hikari-san is that important,” she said—me?

I’m not a Tea Party executive, just a club director. Compared to Tsurugi-sama, Eclaire-senpai, or Nagato-senpai, I’m insignificant.

Strictly speaking, I’m just a security unit captain, nothing compared to faction executives shaping student council policy.

My feeble excuses didn’t work. She forced two bags of Miracle 5000—where’d she get those?—on me, saying we’d meet often. Exhausted as I was, how could I resist? If she says jump, I jump.

With political experience, I’ve learned to know my place. I understand the world’s absurdities—whether they’re absurd or not—and have worked long enough to overlook them.

…Tch. Anyway, I entered the Public Security Bureau, far from the glass palace.

Given public security’s nature, most facilities are old, but this building is shabbier than Checkpoint HQ, which doubles as an actual checkpoint.

Worse than our underfunded Checkpoint—what’s the deal? Did they embezzle the budget? I passed rough, stark white concrete walls to the entrance.

Advanced Academy Creation

Justice Society Realization

“Impressive bunch every time I see them.”

At the counter, a police officer greeted me kindly. After stating my business, she made a call and asked me to wait.

No choice. I sat on a lobby chair, sipping cocoa from a tumbler—I brought cocoa powder for Sensei—watching the scene. As I did, an unfamiliar figure waved from afar.

Valkyrie Police Academy’s Public Security Bureau Chief, Ogata Kanna, aka “Mad Dog.” She sure gets the spotlight.

They say she catches people like a dog, and her piercing gaze confirmed it. I checked my appearance as she approached—buttons fastened, no stains… was leaving my hat behind the issue?

Anxiety crept in, fearing a scolding. Should I grab my administrative beret from the truck? As I worried, Chief Kanna sighed and offered a handshake.

“Pleased to meet you. Sorry for the wait. You’re Hikari, Checkpoint Director, right?”

“Yes, but… you don’t seem at ease.”

She’d contacted me this morning about suppressing armed forces in Kousagi Park, D.U.’s heart. Seems they’re causing trouble. She clicked her tongue, starting our meaningful first meeting.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Trinity’s Proxy—a director-level role is tough to deal with.”

“Our ranks aren’t that different, so treat me casually. During the Eden Treaty Incident, I was just a temporary Senior Administrator. In political experience or real influence, I’m below Defense Office chiefs. Honestly, it was bad luck taking such a heavy role.”

My half-joking confidence landed—or didn’t—as Chief Kanna tilted her head, brushing off my reply. Hiding my embarrassment, I sipped cocoa to wet my dry throat.

“Let’s talk while moving. It’s an urgent matter.”

“…Alright.”

Refusing felt like I’d be thrown into an interrogation room and force-fed hotpot through my nose.

Fine.

If she says jump, I jump.

***

“…Valkyrie’s funding is tight. Adopting new armored vehicles or helicopter models is tough, and overpowering situations make apprehending suspects difficult.”

For a Bureau Chief, she’s pretty normal. Riding in a standard police car, I couldn’t disagree.

Administrators handling finances hate budgeting for public security clubs. The value generated from investments nears zero, so they think it’s useless. Itsuka-senpai often clashed with the Tea Party during supplementary budget season.

All they see is tiny profits. Early in my tenure, they argued over buying Caesar howitzers or excessive shells when a hundred rounds would do.

Good thing that’s gone. Maybe my Proxy record helped.

“…That’s why we called you, Checkpoint Director. You may not know, but post-Eden Treaty, you’re quite famous. I was impressed by your Proxy actions.”

“Flattery. No matter how capable, can I compare to a chief suppressing urban terror?”

D.U.’s downtown roads were rough, the car rattling. Gunshots near Kousagi Park stole my attention. What’s happening?

Did Setsuna-san start another coup? It felt like the Eden Treaty’s nightmare. Seeing my curious look, the Chief sighed and explained.

“We invited you to advise on Valkyrie’s firepower shortage, but…”

BOOM—!

A landmine exploded in the suburbs, shaking the car. I grabbed the ceiling handle; the Chief cursed.

“…This morning’s situation forced a change. Sorry again. It’s an unpredictable attack, so please understand.”

“No worries. I’m used to this. Damn Gehenna kids.”

Trinity’s border security isn’t exactly stable. Makoto’s come to her senses, so it’s mostly stopped, but some checkpoints still face random, aimless raids.

I want to whine to Iroha. Damn it, Iroha, rein in your senpai.

SCREECH— The scene we arrived at was chaos. Security and Public Safety students scrambled.

“Another day at the office.”

“I’ve said it too many times, but sorry. This isn’t a good look.”

Chief Kanna stormed out, furious. The supposedly incompetent Valkyrie students, terrified by their boss, tried managing with remaining forces.

I stepped out leisurely, hands behind my back, scanning the area. A mess of shell craters, students evacuating fainted comrades swept by blasts, and sniper rounds from somewhere on the horizon. Who’s shooting? Impressive.

Good thing I brought my trusty 4-gauge shotgun. I attached a grenade launcher adapter and estimated the distance.

…About 200 yards?

Can’t see, so I’ll shoot and move on. I raised the barrel slightly and pulled the trigger.

FWOOOOSH—!

The 3.2-inch grenade soared into the sky. Without rough coordinates, I didn’t expect a hit.

Turning away, satisfied with stress relief—

SWISH—

“What the hell?”

A bullet grazed my head. Did I dodge by reflex?

…They didn’t even aim properly and tried sniping?

Shooting a Trinity outsider? No drone warning?

This is a declaration of war!

No, SRT’s disbanded—they’re just terrorists!

Swallowing curses rising to my throat, I grabbed binoculars. Recalling the sniper’s direction, I scanned woods and muddy areas—there, a glint in the muck.

Hey, friend! Junior or not, time for a greeting!

Thrilled to meet the chaos’s instigator, I slashed my throat with my hand. The glint vanished.

I noted the sniper’s coordinates and returned to the Security and Public Safety students hit by booby traps and bombings. Chief Kanna, unable to contain her rage, growled.

“All good? Met a friend—looks like a sniper.”

“Kasumizawa Miyu… What’s your take on this mess?”

As always, keep first impressions brief.

“Clueless brats throwing a tantrum over their home being blown up?”

“Same thought.”

“To Valkyrie, they’re outright traitors. Given a chance, they shoot.”

Chief Kanna paused, thinking over my words.

“Trinity’s had plenty of this. So, to put it plainly—”

“…”

“—traitors must be purged.”

With overwhelming force.