[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 161

It took an hour to fetch Hippo-chan, now Ritsuko-chan’s property post-Eden Treaty.

Those kids who fired first at Trinity personnel need punishment. Harsh retaliation—at least razing the four students’ stronghold in Kousagi Park and locking them in the Corrections Bureau.

I called Sayuri-san, probably slacking, and she drove over. Sensei, summoned by the General Student Council, seemed uneasy but guaranteed it’d be interesting.

Sorry, but pay the price for being born in this harsh world.

The Sanctum Tower bombing, which led to SRT Special Academy’s closure, was your fault for looking the other way. Despite lacking authority, that charming special forces group was clearly on the General Student Council’s radar, but they self-destructed.

Three or four senior executives were seriously injured, and rumor has it one administrator needed surgery.

These girls, far beyond Checkpoint students who only know how to disassemble guns, load magazines, and pull triggers for lunch money, why ruin their future with untaught terrorism?

If Nagisa-sama ordered Checkpoint’s disbandment overnight, I’d comply, so I dare mock them. Even Gehenna’s idiots know who’s above them. Arrogance needs limits.

Their beliefs and pride? All I see are rebellious brats who can’t adapt to reality.

“Don’t worry, run wild. Nothing beats artillery for catching people, haha.”

Sensei and the Chief paled at Hippo-chan’s 13-meter battlefield stride. Building this mobile fortress took 40% of the Engineering Department’s budget. Months later, no issues—great deal.

A 6.1-inch shell’s a fine lesson for foolish kids. Let’s socialize them properly.

“Attacking a broadcasting station’s relay equipment—what scoundrels…”

Chief Kanna fumed. While waiting for Hippo-chan, Chronos School’s drone went to film RABBIT Platoon’s stronghold but got attacked with a grand explosion.

Did they eat something bad? Aren’t they scared?

Occupying a park meant for citizens’ leisure without legal grounds, yet hating the spotlight. If this happened in the Justice Task Force, Tsurugi-sama would expel them herself.

“How did those kids get into SRT Academy?”

“Spirited kids.”

Sensei gave the most positive response he could. His effort to defend them is admirable.

The dear Chief’s anger didn’t subside despite Sensei’s attempt to calm it. If you asked my take, as a socially experienced student, I’d side with the former.

This isn’t just about shooting without warning. Trinity’s had plenty of protests from Pater and other radical factions. What pisses me off is these kids, acting like them, tarnishing SRT’s honor.

The explosions on the horizon didn’t match half my disbelief.

“In Kivotos, we call them idiots. Simple idiots are fine, but powerful idiots are dangerous—they can’t be reasoned with.”

“Brats who don’t know their place. They’re rabbits alright.”

While Sensei insisted Lifestyle Safety students could handle it and the Chief fretted, I excused myself, grabbing a tactical map and binoculars to climb a hill. Sayuri-san’s Hippo-chan wasn’t around.

[Did our junior eat breakfast? Hope you calculate rapid-fire coordinates well.]

[Even lying in bed all day, I’d do better than you, senpai. Don’t get hit by that sniper.]

Harsh.

But this Director Hikari has a plan. I know how well Sensei commands strategies.

Trinity Border Checkpoint’s artillery core is 60 Caesar self-propelled howitzers. Hippo-chan’s not the flagship vehicle for nothing—its fire rate and every aspect dominate.

Fire control and auto-loading systems, designed in-house by the Engineering Department, are flawless. You could place cocoa on the barrel without it falling.

[Let’s make a mark with Valkyrie friends. Think of it as patriotism for Trinity.]

If we end SRT’s era and aid new Security Bureau recruits, they’ll ensure Kivotos’s safety, including Trinity’s.

So, increasing rapid-fire rounds has no emotion—really.

[Adjusting 40 rapid-fire rounds. Estimated 15 miles… no, make it 16. Handle the rest.]

[All set.]

[Fire away.]

BOOM—! Explosions roared over the radio.

***

Minutes later, I stood smugly, hands behind my back. Sensei, Chief Kanna, and the rowdy RABBIT Platoon members.

Who’d think incompetent Lifestyle Safety students could subdue special forces? Ahh—the post-strike bombardment was truly beautiful. Ever seen a TOT of 23 rounds in battle?

I only watched, but they experienced it, so ask them. The cute sniper-chan aside, they’re flailing, unable to accept defeat.

“Phew—great job commanding. These the kids?”

Approaching with a kind smile, I drew attention. I patted Sensei’s sore shoulders and shook hands with Chief Kanna, who thanked me for the one-sided artillery support.

Reactions varied. One kid turned away, scared; two glared. The rabbit-eared girl, likely the platoon leader, boldly met my eyes. Tied up, she couldn’t resist. I suggested tea, mocking them.

Their responses were a sight. The timid girl buried her face in her knees—why?—while the other three flushed with uncontained rage.

“Hey, you’re SRT Academy students, right?”

“No words for you!”

“You’re here to mock us, huh? We know!”

They spewed negativity at Sensei’s kind greeting. Why? He’s Trinity’s hero.

I didn’t care much, so I stepped back. Sensei’s good with people—he’ll handle it. I should give Chief Kanna some cocoa for her efforts.

“Have a drink—you earned it. A gift from your public security junior.”

The tiger-eyed senpai stared, took a sip, and, surprised, said she’d share it with Security students. Pfft—my mood.

“…You’re the ‘adult’ commanding Lifestyle Safety students? The Schale Sensei trusted by all, solving problems with extralegal powers…”

A dirt-covered girl, pausing to think, threw a jab.

“Sensei, I hate adults like you most.”

Her peers chimed in.

“Go to hell.”

“Hope we never see you again.”

Three of them, minus the scared one too timid to speak. I knew it from their SRT pride talk.

Sensei, suddenly the most hated adult, brushed it off. Chief Kanna, uncharacteristically, urged ignoring their nonsense. Their bold acceptance of arrest felt historic.

If Mitsuki-san were here, she’d snap photos, titling it “The General Student Council’s Last Day” or some absurd headline. That senpai’s impressive, climbing to Chronos’s social editor.

…But these thoughts couldn’t stop my words. I felt that hollow.

“What a bunch of brats.”

Small, but loud enough for them to hear—deliberately stirring conflict, but I didn’t care.

“…What did you say?”

I heard from Chief Kanna her name’s Tsukiyuki Miyako, the platoon leader. She couldn’t hide her panic during Sayuri-san’s bold bombardment, so she’s not that qualified.

“Just muttering. No need to hate on a third party like me, right?”

What if I openly provoke them?

“I know you. Yamatsu Hikari, Checkpoint Director, former Trinity Proxy. A student representing an academy shouldn’t speak like that—it’s morally wrong.”

“Sorry, that applies to ‘moral’ students. Shooting up the place thinking you’re untouchable, then whining to a kind adult when caught? You’re immature brats who don’t act your age.”

If they were competent, they’d know who inherited the missing General Student Council president’s authority or who funded their cutting-edge weapons.

“The world isn’t ruled by law or ideals, nor just by force. I’ve seen those living by force alone and watched them fall.”

Beatrice’s student council era will remain Arius’s shadow forever. Her successor will be better.

“Do you know how expensive the fire control systems you destroyed are? You won’t compensate, yet you talk like this? Reason? Force? I just want to use those weapons.”

As the platoon leader vented, the bespectacled student resolved to fight back.

“Then make them yourself. Be a terrorist or bank robber—do you. Why join SRT and cause this mess?”

“Valkyrie isn’t SRT. I want a strict life, not a delinquent school. And watch your words about my platoon—don’t insult or judge us.”

Now the rule-follower next to her? Does this platoon share a brain?

“You’re insulting the Chief beside you. Fine, you live by strict rules. Does today’s siege align with SRT’s doctrine? If so, is SRT a terrorist factory now?”

“Saki, stop. And Director Hikari, you’re right—living by force alone is wrong. But I had clear reasons for opposing transfer to Valkyrie.”

Calming Saki’s outrage at my defamation, the platoon leader continued.

“SRT had a justice only we could uphold. That’s why I didn’t want to leave. If we do, we might lose that justice.”

“Enough nonsense, Miyako-san.”

Interrupting her was probably rude, but it needed saying.

“Justice is realized through righteous truth. The goddess of justice holds scales, judging actions, not people or settings. Whoever, whenever, wherever—good deeds are justice. SRT doesn’t matter.”

“…”

“Nanagami Rin, Acting President, decided SRT’s closure. It passed with a majority vote.”

Partial democracy’s realization is the ultimate justification. It’s just a board election, not public will, but that’s not their concern.

“The justice you cling to in SRT is over. No chance of revival.”

“That’s… that’s not…!”

“Grow up, kid. It’s time to move with the times.”

As a senpai who’s felt the terror of public will and faced centuries of rage for outdated causes, I spoke. I should act my age.

Miyako-san, with teary eyes, looked at me desperately before trudging away.

“Chief Kanna, one request.”

“What is it?”

“Can I observe when you interrogate them at Valkyrie?”