Chapter 199

Episode 195: Crackling Battle Against Fake Siera

The perceptions of Factom General Academy vary greatly among those around it.

It is an elite academy created by the Director.

It is an educational institution established to cultivate S-Rank individuals.

It is an organization prepared as a third countermeasure against Angels.

From the sudden destruction of Kisou Academy up until now, Factom General Academy has amply demonstrated its strength.

Among them, the accomplishments of Teruue Mizuki stand out impressively.

Her activities as an S-Rank have become well-known, especially for dungeon rescues, which have increased her fame.

Thus, when someone hears the name of Factom General Academy and is asked who the strongest is, they would likely immediately mention her name.

However, for those familiar with Factom General Academy, the answer changes.

—That academy houses many monsters.

This is the significant factor that has drawn attention from the two major schools, Kisou Academy and Mikage Academy.

“Mizuki Senpai”

“Ah”

Calling her name alone completes the interaction.

Or perhaps, there’s no need even for that.

Opposing them is the monster Solciera, wielding the extraordinary ability of interference.

Despite this, Kei charged forward with utmost calmness.

Her thought processes accelerated, processing enemy information in a second.

“Her abilities and physical form are Solciera’s. Though it’s her initial form, we should assume she can use techniques available to us.”

“Understood.”

Kei lunged forward, taking the lead.

To intercept her, Solciera deployed artillery formations.

But at that moment, the space behind Solciera warped with intense heat.

Flames erupted, and in an instant, Hikari appeared with her radiant wings unfurled.

The incineration of distance.

A technique only achievable because she is S-Rank.

Mizuki used her ability to instantly teleport Hikari behind Solciera, where she transformed the tips of her dual light wings into spear-like shapes.

“We’re going in!”

Hikari launched her light wings at Solciera.

Simultaneously, Kei’s dagger appeared before the target.

Defending against either would result in fatal injuries.

Solciera immediately halted her attack and erected a barrier to cover herself.

The dagger and light wings were deflected by the barrier.

“Leave the rest to you!”

“I’ve got it.”

As the barrier deployment paused Solciera’s movement, two gun barrels locked onto her.

The bullets contained the concept of incineration.

Bullets of flames that could reach phenomena themselves were fired simultaneously.

“Hmm?”

Solciera momentarily froze in expression.

At that timing, Hikari and Kei leaped to both sides.

In their place, the flaming bullets struck directly.

Intense explosions erupted around, burning everything in sight.

Facing the rising black smoke, Hikari returned to Mizuki and said:

“Did we get her…!?”

“Ah, don’t say things like that…”

Kei interjected without hesitation.

Even in front of Solciera, they remained composed.

Therefore, when Solciera emerged unscathed from the black smoke, they didn’t panic.

“Indeed, I felt the impact…”

“Solciera’s supposed to have an incredible body regeneration ability. It seems destroying her Demons Gear is the way to kill her…”

Kei advised accordingly.

“Destroying the Demons Gear, huh… But if this one’s a fake, will breaking the gear be enough to stop it?”

Upon Mizuki’s words, Kei paused briefly before answering.

“To me, it didn’t feel human. Just like back then…”

“…Back when we faced Rakkha.”

Both Kei and Mizuki had encountered such a fake before.

“…There must be some kind of core forming this thing. In Rakkha’s case, it was a Dungeon Core. If we can destroy that accurately…”

“Very insightful… Truly impressive, Kei. To deduce so much from just that brief attack shows how reliable you are.”

“Not at all, I’m glad if I could help.”

With that, Kei readied her dagger again, her expression serious.

‘Kyaa＞＜ Got praised ＞＜’

‘Good job ^^’

‘Just passing on my advice? …Oh, how did that go?’

‘Stop acting like a summary site.’

Within the stretched-out thought space, Kei calmly constructed combat logic.

Fighting Solciera should be impossible.

Yet, there was no sign of panic in her thoughts.

“There’s a weakness within that thing!”

Hearing the conversation between the two, Hikari nodded.

Then, confidently tapping her chest, she declared:

“Hey, I feel like I can break something like that. Can you trust me with it?”

Upon hearing Hikari’s words, Mizuki and Kei exchanged glances.

And just as they were about to respond, silver artillery fire attacked the three of them.

“Tch!”

Mizuki intercepted the artillery with a wall of flames.

And shouted,

“Try it! I’ll support you!”

“Thank you!”

Hikari thanked her and took flight using her light wings.

She observed Solciera firing artillery.

“Hmm… Is it there?”

Within mere seconds, Hikari noticed the anomaly within Solciera.

“Alright!”

Hikari screamed and dove straight down.

Noticing this, Solciera moved to counterattack.

But the silver chains wrapped around her arm hindered her movements.

“—Fufu, nope. Not while you’re distracted.”

There, unnoticed by anyone, stood Kei, exercising limited Solciera-like powers.

Seeing this, Solciera instantly interfered with the chains and freed herself.

But that brief opening was more than enough.

“I’m busting through!”

Less than a second.

For Hikari, however, it was priceless time that assured victory.

Shooting out her light wings like jets, Hikari approached Solciera.

She transformed one of her light wings into a spear once more and launched it.

Solciera re-erected her barriers.

But the light wing turned a cyan-purple hue and broke through the barrier without resistance.

“Huh!? What!?”

Both the fake and the real Solciera expressed surprise.

Assuming the attack would be blocked, Kei had already prepared her next move, finding this turn of events astonishing.

‘Didn’t Fake Siera say she’d use the same technique as me? That barrier’s strength matches my initial form…’

“…Eh, what was that scary…”

Even the real Solciera was surprised as Hikari’s light wing pierced through the barrier and approached her.

In response, Solciera calmly re-erected her barrier.

Smaller in range but stronger than the one previously broken.

Presumably mimicking the real Solciera’s actions.

Though less than a meter wide, this small barrier was sufficient to withstand Hikari’s attack.

It should have been.

“What the hell!”

In response to Hikari’s shout, the tip of the light wing glowed red.

Then, it bent unnaturally, describing an unnatural trajectory.

Turning at right angles before the barrier, it curved again before the newly erected one.

Avoiding several barriers in this manner, it surged forward like lightning and eventually pierced Solciera’s left shoulder.

A perfect hit.

An attack that couldn’t be described any other way, it beautifully destroyed the core located in Solciera’s left shoulder.

“…Gah”

With her core destroyed, Solciera staggered.

Attempting to hold her left shoulder and ready her large scythe — she crumbled like sand.

“Justice prevails!”

Confirming Solciera’s death, Hikari turned her back dramatically and posed victoriously.

Seeing this, Mizuki sighed in relief and ran to Hikari.

Kogare also emerged from hiding, half-crying, and rushed over.

“Well done! I didn’t think you’d actually defeat her…”

“Ah, thank you very much! I didn’t expect the problem to be solved on the first day…”

“Dark Solciera… She was a formidable foe.”

Hikari wiped sweat from her forehead and looked at the sand beneath her feet.

“It really was a fake, wasn’t it? The real one wouldn’t turn into sand!”

“That’s right. Besides… the real one is much stronger.”

“Ni… So the Enforcer was correct about the fake, wasn’t he? How should we write the report… We defeated her without knowing the purpose…”

“Justice prevails! That should be fine, right?”

“Is that even a proper report?”

Mizuki chuckled softly at this.

Hikari responded confidently, “Yes, it is.”

While observing these girls, Kei was enthusiastically conducting a meeting inside her head.

“The fake is dead! Surprisingly killed by Hikari-chan!”

“That light… and that power, no, could it be?”

“Stop hinting at things! Tell us already!”

“My mistake might be off. Plus, it shouldn’t be possible anyway. Yeah, it’s a misunderstanding ^^”

“There aren’t usually misunderstandings like that! Tell us, we’re anxious! What was that light!?”

“Being selfish isn’t good, My Road. I’ll buy you sweets later.”

“Loli-con, step aside!”

The trio consisting of the Lolicon, the troublesome fan, and the extreme pervert continued their heated discussion.

But since their topic wasn’t a beautiful girl, the conversation couldn’t progress normally.

“So, I guess the incident is resolved… right?”

“Yeah.”

Responding to Kei, Mizuki nodded.

Then, squatting before the sand, she tilted her head.

“Let’s call the investigation team from the Board of Directors. This isn’t ordinary sand.”

“Ah, may I take a little back as a memento of defeating the fake?”

“Hmm, how about that? What do you think, Kogare-sensei?”

Surprised to be suddenly addressed, Kogare exclaimed,

“Eeeh!? …Um, probably not allowed, right? Besides, it’s dangerous…”

“I see…”

Hikari became disheartened and slumped her shoulders.

Just then,

“I’m late, sorry!”

Everyone looked up at the voice coming from above.

There was a massive dragon’s silhouette.

“Oh, they’ve arrived.”

“Watatori-san… why exactly at this moment…”

Unaware of the complex gaze directed at her by Kogare, Ryuko landed in front of the four.

Then, more cheerful than usual, she jumped off Baltius.

“Sorry, I overslept a bit. When I woke up, my clock was frozen solid.”

“Eh…”

“BUT! This S-Rank Watatori Ryuko won’t miss this chance to restore her honor!”

“…Extra lessons later, then.”

“Whyyy!?”

Ignoring Kogare’s exasperated look, Ryuko hastily retrieved something from her expanded domain.

Then, with a smug expression, she presented it.

“Take a look!”

It was a bag full of sand.

The four recognized it.

“This is…?”

“Fufu… Actually,”

Ryuko made a peace sign with a smug face and declared,

“I’ve already taken down Solciera…! Well, it was obviously a fake, but this resolves the incident! …What do you think, Kei? Don’t I look like an S-Rank now?”

“…Yeah, sure.”

Kei nodded with a complicated expression.

Unaware of Kei’s demeanor, Ryuko scratched her head sheepishly.

“Mizuki Senpai, this is…?”

“Yeah. No doubt about it.”

Unaware of the fierce battle that had just occurred here, Ryuko remained cheerful while the four solemnly nodded.

“There was more than one fake.”

■

Meanwhile, at the edge of Kroma’s tourist district.

In a quiet alleyway, Rokuhara stretched widely.

“Finally got to play a bit. …Well, let’s hurry and meet up with President Dia.”

“Eeeh!? I’m already tired… Leader, can we eat dinner first?”

“I’ve already eaten. Three bowls of ramen too…”

Rokuhara sighed and started walking.

Seeing this, Eina said,

“Then, how about a snack?”

“What’s this ‘then’? Eating that much will make you fat.”

“Hehe~n. I’m a Demons Gear, so I don’t get fat!”

“…”

“What’s that look for? Ehh, have I gained weight?”

Rokuhara remained silent.

He walked on through the alleyway without saying anything.

“Hey, Leader! Answer me!”

While uttering pitiful words, Eina followed after Rokuhara.

Where they had been until now, remnants of fierce battles and large amounts of sand remained.

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