[Blue Archive] I am the Trinity Checkpoint Chief – Chapter 51

I started grilling Mika-sama with a voice full of frustration.

“Look, Mika-sama. Why are you trying so hard to dislocate poor Sayuri-san’s shoulder? She may have been with the Pater faction before, but she’s a full-fledged Border Checkpoint member now. This puts me in a tough spot.”

“Hmm, I was just questioning her. Wondering why she’s wandering around the main building during a security lockdown. You know Sayuri-chan’s famous for being a law-abiding student, Hikari-chan. I was just curious.”

“Honestly, that’s what I want to ask you. Why are you here, Mika-sama? Even faction leaders are barred from entry during a lockdown.”

“…I have my reasons. I’d rather you didn’t ask.” Saying that only makes me more suspicious, doesn’t it?

Sayuri-san was still wincing from her shoulder pain. I pulled a small pain relief patch from my pocket and put it on her.

What the hell is going on? Why is Mika-sama here, and why was she pressing down on Sayuri’s shoulder? It’s too suspicious to be just “questioning.” That’s not even her usual personality.

More than that, Mika-sama’s vibe is seriously intense right now. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but she’s definitely not her usual self. It’s less about being in a bad mood and more… serious, maybe?

…Could the Pater faction have stirred something up?

“Mika-sama, are there other Pater members here?”

“No, it’s just me today. Are you and Sayuri-chan here alone?”

“Well, yeah. I came to check what was going on after hearing about the lockdown.”

“Hmm… got it.”

Mika-sama glanced at us, like she was probing for information.

Sayuri-san clung to my side, showing no sign of letting go. She must be terrified of Mika-sama. I shot Mika-sama a look to back off, and she gave an awkward smile before stepping back.

In the distance, the gunfire was dying down, as if the battle was nearing its end. If we don’t move fast, they’ll notice the attention we’re drawing and go into hiding. I tried to brush off the conversation and head to the scene.

“Oh, Hikari-chan, where are you rushing off to? Our chat’s not over yet, you know?”

“I came here for my own urgent business, so I can’t share the details. Just like you have your own reasons for being here, Mika-sama.”

“True, but… how boring. Talking for such a short time. Can’t I come along?”

Mika-sama grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go. With so little time left, it’s hard to sway a stubborn, unyielding student council president. It’s probably better to let her tag along and move quickly than hope nothing happens.

I placed my other hand over Mika-sama’s, which was holding mine.

“If you insist.”

***

“What the hell is this, Mika-sama? What are you trying to pull?”

Goddamn it, what’s going on?

In the clearing in front of the gym, Sayuri-san and I were surrounded by at least a hundred students. I wondered why there weren’t any knocked-out students after the firefight, but we were suddenly swarmed.

So, did the Pater faction stage a coup? But if Sayuri-san’s surrounded too, maybe not. Or… maybe it’s part of purging their moderates?

No, what am I even thinking? What’s the point of understanding this?

“Mika-sama, you’ve heard the rumors going around the Tea Party Hall, right? The ‘Traitor of Trinity’ story. You know it?”

“Of course I do. It’s all over the Tea Party Hall. Nagisa-sama believed that nonsense like it was gospel. But what does that have to do with this? Call off your goons. You’re making a mistake.”

“No, no. I haven’t made a single mistake.”

What do you mean you haven’t made a mistake, damn it? You can’t say that when you’re the one behind this.

What does it mean to surround me, the Border Checkpoint Commander, like this? It’s not just a “how dare you” moment—it means, as I just said, that Mika-sama’s been planning something akin to a coup.

I don’t know where she got all these troops, but this isn’t some small-scale operation. Are these damn Pater bastards so against joining Gehenna that they’re trying to overthrow the Tea Party Hall?

Mika-sama put a finger to her lips and shushed me.

“I’m the <traitor of trinity>, Hikari-chan. I’ve been preparing for this day for a long time. The Justice Task Force won’t move, and the Tea Party Hall will stay quiet all night. I almost forgot about the Checkpoint at the end of the plan, but here you are, walking right in.”

“Then who are these people?”

“They’re from the Arius faction, senpai. The ones you’re thinking of.”

“You knew about the <traitor of trinity> but not this? That’s surprising, Hikari-chan. As Sayuri-chan said, these are Arius faction members. Kids excommunicated at the First Council, persecuted for ages.”

They’re still alive? I thought they were long gone.

Anyway, Arius, huh? The Arius faction got to the Pater faction—specifically to Misono Mika, their leader. And now they’re attempting an armed coup in the heart of Trinity’s city.

I need to think. Arius must have their own justification—probably something like reclaiming old territory. But isn’t that enough for a solo operation? If they’re aiming for all-out war, hitting Trinity now is a bad choice. Despite the political unrest, what can fewer than 200 people do?

Wait a second. Political unrest… the best way for a weaker group to topple a stronger one is to strike at a politically critical point, plant spies to sow division, or rally students to gain collaborators.

This is Trinity’s main building, close to the Tea Party Hall, the heart of Trinity. Mika-sama admitted to being a collaborator and is in a prime position to cause division.

So, the Arius faction is using all three tactics against Trinity General Academy.

What do they want, then?

They’ve got everything they need. Mika-sama’s leading Arius students to complete the coup, likely kidnapped Nagisa-sama for it, and next, obviously, Mika-sama will—

—Didn’t something like this happen last year?

“…Mika-sama, I’m saying this sincerely—you’re making a mistake.”

“I told you, I’m not. I’m not deluded, and I’m not wrong. This is the right way.”

“So you’re repeating what happened last year?”

I didn’t specify a subject. Her reaction will tell me if I’m right—did she kill Seia-sama, or did that event make her start distrusting Nagisa-sama?

Mika-sama didn’t react at first, then moved. No, she slowly approached me.

—Grab!

Mika-sama seized my throat, almost lifting me off the ground.

“Cough…”

“Hikari-chan, you’d better watch your words. Even if I put on a facade for others, you know I don’t with you.”

“Cough… But… Mika-sama… did you know?”

The faction leader, casually showing off her monstrous strength, tilted her head.

“What are you trying to say?”

“…I came here because I heard Nagisa-sama was kidnapped.”

“…!”

A massive explosion roared from the direction we came from. Students poured through the shattered wall, including Yuzuki and Ritsuko-chan, whom I knew.

Mika-sama, so shocked she let go of my throat, stood dumbfounded. Taking advantage of the Arius faction’s hesitation, I grabbed Sayuri-san and rejoined our main unit.

“Hikari-chan, you had all this prepared? I’m impressed.”

“Cough, cough… Who do you think I am? The self-proclaimed <madwoman of trinity> who’d play bagpipes in the middle of the Tea Party Hall for this academy! This is child’s play!”

“Fun, huh? Really fun.”

“Now we can talk on equal terms! Hahaha!”

To emphasize the tables turning, I deliberately raised my voice.

Mika-sama was calculating something in her head. Truthfully, this force isn’t enough to take her down, let alone the Arius faction. She’s the type who’d chew through the Tea Party Hall’s pillars out of boredom—how could an ordinary person handle her?

“Mika-sama, I’m the head of Trinity General Academy’s Border Checkpoint. Call off your goons. I can even plead with Nagisa-sama to lessen your punishment.”

“Hmm, and if I don’t feel like it?”

“The Border Checkpoint Commander doesn’t tolerate any illegal regime change, no matter the means.”

“I’m still the Pater faction leader, one of Trinity’s three student council presidents. If I order you to withdraw, like I did the Justice Task Force, you’d have to obey, wouldn’t you?”

“That only applies if you hadn’t caused a stir in Trinity’s political scene, Mika-sama. I respect you, but I don’t have to respect your authority. My club was created to crush coups, so please understand.”

“…Is that so?”

By now, the Checkpoint students had formed ranks, hiding behind cover, awaiting the order to fire. A massive firefight with over 300 people from both sides loomed.

Mika-sama loaded her gun and aimed at me. I picked up a magazine that had fallen from my L85.

If a fight breaks out, we’ll lose. The Arius faction’s fierce combat power is one thing, but how do you stop a crazy Mika-sama? Even throwing in the entire Sisterhood might not be enough.

Still, I’ve got something up my sleeve. If numbers aren’t enough, just bring more and overwhelm them, right?

“—Fire authorized—!”

“Yeah, attack☆—wait, what?”

—BOOOOM!

See?