Chapter 221

Episode 217: Flap, Flap, S Rank Arrival

In a world frozen in time, the two of them stood facing each other.

One was once the strongest.

The other, a replica of that very strength.

The entities capable of changing this battle situation stared at each other without so much as a twitch.

(Ryuko’s guest, right? If I recall correctly, an S Rank copy.)

Nei had already heard about her from Ryuko.

About the other supreme existence who wielded the power to freeze.

A being secretly created by the scholar was now wreaking havoc on the board like an irregularity at this very moment.

(Thirty moves just to break it. And then extracting results from there will be grueling.)

Nei had begun calculating the neutralization of Rei almost immediately upon confrontation.

But no matter how many times she calculated, the same answer kept coming up.

(At this rate, I can’t win…! I shouldn’t be wasting my time with this…)

Seeing Nei reposition her rapier in frustration, Rei snorted derisively.

“Foolish. For one who should act as a teacher to lose oneself so easily is disgraceful.”

“…If you’re misunderstanding, let me explain. We need a Sanctuary User to save Miuye. There’s only one person here who can move freely and has the potential to become a Sanctuary User.”

“Freely…? To my eyes, you look like a frightened fawn. What drives you?”

“Tch, don’t pretend to know everything. You have to listen to your teacher, you know?”

“I don’t care. It’s all about me. The world should go according to my wishes.”

With that, Rei conjured an ice sword in their hand.

And pointed its tip at Nei.

“Halt. Or I shall strike.”

“You don’t have any obligation to stop me. Move aside. This will be resolved quickly.”

In fact, Nei had full confidence that she could resolve this situation.

(There’s no doubt I’m the one being called for.)

A situation similar to ten years ago, the sole highest combatant able to move.

And somewhere, a familiar face of a conductor.

She had understood long ago that she herself was the beginning of this incident.

“It’s meaningful because I’ll resolve it.”

“I don’t care.”

Rei dismissed those words without thought.

“On the line here is pudding. A whole week’s worth of exquisite puddings made by Ryuko using Dragon Succession. Three a day! Morning, noon, and night!”

“…Pudding?”

“Yes. Even I must admit, he’s unnaturally skilled at making sweets. In that regard, he surpasses even me.”

Recalling the taste of pudding, Rei closed their eyes and nodded.

Seeing this, Nei’s voice trembled with irritation.

“To interfere for such a reason…”

“To me, it’s important. Meaning, it’s important to the world.”

“What nonsense―!?”

The moment Nei attempted to use her ability, her limbs were already frozen solid.

Rei hadn’t moved an inch from their spot.

Just silently gazing at Nei.

“Incompetent. At this level, you can’t even raise a blade against me.”

“…Let me go. This isn’t the time for comrades to turn against each other. We need to hurry and save Miuye.”

“That role isn’t yours.”

“No, it’s mine! Who else is there? In this situation, only I can move freely! The S Ranks have been detained for ages!”

“That’s true. Only you are clearly free to move. It’s a stage set up just for you. Perfectly tailored for past heroes to shine.”

“Then…!”

“Isn’t it obvious that it’s all according to that conductor’s plan? Even without my 100 billion IQ, it’s clear. This elaborate setup was to call you. Your going alone signifies defeat.”

Nei clenched her teeth.

She had known all along.

Even knowing, she had considered this the best choice.

“…So you’re saying I should just let it happen? Like last time!”

It was a cry of genuine anguish.

But Rei didn’t flinch a single muscle.

Their gaze was cold and detached.

“So you’re still trapped in the past, pitiful. Nei, what do you see before your eyes?”

“…Huh?”

“Pitiful people begging for help? No, that’s not it. Everyone is striving to solve the incident. Not a single person expects you to solve everything!”

Clasping their arms, Rei stood tall and proclaimed,

“And isn’t that right, Ryuko?”

Behind Rei, a dragon with outspread wings landed.

The girl who descended from its back was someone Nei knew well.

“Ryuko…you came.”

“Of course. I totally expected some foolishness from you. Nei-sensei can be quite naive, you know. When she’s sober, she tends to be negative. I know she’s still hung up on what happened ten years ago. Isn’t it obvious trouble’s brewing?”

Ryuko said this with a grin.

Her uniform was torn and scorched in places.

“…You’re injured.”

“Nah, I’m fine. Despite appearances, I’m S Rank, and besides―I’m your top disciple.”

Saying this, Ryuko made a peace sign.

Despite the situation, her smile remained unchanged.

“…Ah.”

Seeing this, Nei realized.

“I see. My part is over then. …Hahaha, somehow I feel relieved.”

Tears blurred her vision as she spoke these somewhat resigned words.

Ryuko would absolutely save Miuye and resolve the incident.

Nei knew this after always watching Ryuko closely.

The incident was as good as resolved.

And yet…

(Again, I couldn’t save anyone… How frustrating.)

These tears cursed her own powerlessness.

Ultimately, Nei hadn’t saved anyone.

Still, if Miuye could be saved, Nei desired nothing else.

Even if it meant denying herself.

“I understand…then, please go carefully.”

As if declaring her role finished, Nei lost her energy.

Had she not been bound in ice, she likely would have collapsed on the spot.

Like an actor who had completed their performance, Nei closed her eyes.

“―What?! Am I supposed to go alone!?”

This unexpectedly ordinary voice approached hurriedly.

They lifted Nei’s face.

In her opened vision was Ryuko’s pale face.

“Impossible! Why me alone?! Hey, aren’t you the teacher!? Shouldn’t the teacher protect the students?! I’ll report you to the Director!”

“…Huh?”

Nei thought within her weariness.

―What is this child talking about?

“Isn’t Ryuko the one who’s going?”

“Yeah, I’m going. Mr. Rokuhara told me, ‘I’m busy too, don’t contact me!’ Mizuki isn’t responding, Tatarai’s ignoring read messages… Since I’m the only one available, I’ll go.”

Wiping away the tears gently, Ryuko smiled.

“But…there’s no need for me to go alone, right? That goes for both me and Nei-sensei. It’s wrong for just one person to be the hero. We’re not alone; we’ll save everyone together.”

“You’re just scared. I can tell.”

“Pudding”

“You’re right, Nei.”

Rei nodded vigorously.

Seeing this, Ryuko chuckled as she continued.

“I, who am no hero or anything, can’t save the world alone. But maybe, just maybe, I can with someone else. So―”

Rei snapped their fingers, shattering the ice binding Nei.

“So, would you come with me?”

As the bindings broke and Nei nearly fell, Ryuko took her hand.

Her usual somewhat unreliable smile.

Because of that, Nei was able to nod honestly.

“Haha…can’t be helped, huh.”

“Heh, sorry for being such a poor disciple.”

“Don’t give me that, top disciple.”

Saying this, Nei patted Ryuko’s head.

Unbeknownst to her, the pain and anxiety that had enveloped her mind until now had vanished.

“Alright, let’s go then.”

“Yeah, let’s go!”

Nei nodded without hesitation.

She wasn’t alone anymore.

“…Huh? Am I coming too? Normally, it’s nap time…”

“Pudding”

“Let’s go. I’ve wanted to destroy that tower anyway! For sunlight rights!”

“A socially conscious little girl?”

Exchanging banter, Nei followed the backs of the two heading toward Baltius.

(She’s really grown dependable.)

She thought but didn’t say aloud.

She knew Ryuko would get carried away if she did.

So quietly, inaudible to her, Nei murmured,

“You’re a hero now too, Ryuko.”

Riding on Baltius, Ryuko reached out her hand to Nei.

Taking it and jumping aboard, Baltius soared into the sky instantly.

“So, how are we taking him down?”

“We’ve got a secret plan! One prepared by President Dia of the Student Council just in case!”

Saying this, Ryuko opened a window.

Connecting somewhere, she cleared her throat.

“Ahem, cough. Sorry to keep you waiting, members of the Chroma Election Management Committee. Now, umm… hey, seriously, do I have to say this operation name?”

“Ryuko, hurry up. My sleepy time limit is approaching. Don’t waste time on trivialities.”

Nudged from behind, Ryuko, in exasperation, exclaimed “Ah, whatever!”

“Commencing Operation Royal Number One!”

■

Amidst the rubble, clapping, the Star Reader’s Staff watched as Ryuko and company took flight.

“Bravo ^^ Oh, splendid. Truly, humans are BIG LOVE.”

While enjoying tea elegantly as if watching a play, the Star Reader’s Staff nodded.

Currently, they were the one most enjoying this situation.

“Well, let’s see the next partner panicking. By alternating between different beautiful girls, the computational circuits align, you see ^^”

Smiling cheerfully, the Star Reader’s Staff looked at one of the open windows.

But there was no one there.

“…Huh?”

The Star Reader’s Staff hastily searched around.

But there was no one anywhere.

“Partner!? Where… where could they be?!”

Immediately, the Star Reader’s Staff interfered across the entirety of Chroma.

Their pathological love for Kei and past experience interfering with all of Chroma granted them, for this moment, perception abilities equal to Eina’s.

“Don’t do beautiful girls without me… At least leave a recording behind!”

Focusing solely on Kei’s magical power, they sought their location.

And soon enough, they looked upward in shock.

“Flew off? With someone else…?”

Without pondering how they flew, why they were in the air, or even if they were flying at all, the Star Reader’s Staff frantically changed the surveillance magic circle’s coordinates.

“This…!”

What the Star Reader’s Staff saw then―

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