Chapter 222

Episode 218: The Shiny High School Girl Grand Election

Overlooking the town dominated by screams and tragedies, the Conductor was trembling with emotion.

“What a sorrowful stage. This festive day, filled with happiness, has been destroyed by this one evil villain with her wicked knowledge and tyranny. … It cannot be forgiven! Evil must surely be crushed! The iron hammer of justice is about to begin!”

Spreading both arms, the Conductor spun around on the spot and laughed aloud.

“… How absurd.”

“Huh? What? Your line is already over. You’ve fulfilled your role as a stepping stone.”

Approaching Dia who was suspended, the Conductor spat with disdain.

However, the light in Dia’s eyes had not yet faded.

“I somehow understand the outline of your heart now. Poor thing, there was no one beside you, was there?”

“Tch, don’t pretend to know. Evil doesn’t need feelings. And enemies don’t need sad pasts; it’s just annoying and out of place! … Right? I am evil. And the one to defeat me is—”

Leaning close, the Conductor grinned.

“Lady Nei, the hero.”

“Indeed, she was a hero. But now, she’s a teacher. Things won’t go according to your ridiculous delusions.”

“They will. Because the world desires her. No one else can defeat That Thing…! We must make Lady Nei realize her role as a hero before That Thing arrives…!”

As if seeing something in a vision, the Conductor, driven by anxiety, moved away from Dia and headed toward Miuye, who remained unconscious.

“You must also be hoping to be saved soon, right? This time, we’ll be saved, and then both sisters together will watch Lady Nei’s performance. That was our promise, wasn’t it? I’ve composed many songs for you two. I heard you like cheerful tunes that bounce. Right?”

With a voice as gentle as speaking to a young child, the Conductor addressed her.

Seeing this, Dia realized.

The Conductor had broken long ago.

“Oh, yes. Continuing as Sleeping Beauty might be tough. So, from here on, it’s improvisation. The hero heading to the tower to save you. Facing the monsters blocking the way! Let’s enjoy their elegant defeats together!”

Saying this, the Conductor opened a window.

And immediately widened her eyes.

“… What is this!”

■

A gust of wind swept through the street dominated by despair.

Faster than anything, dazzlingly bright, and powerfully strong.

The first ones to notice the soaring figure in the sky were, naturally, Kroma Music Academy’s students.

“Baltesius, higher and more conspicuous!”

At Kroma Music Academy, the strongest girl,

the one who received a bit twisted affection from all the students, soared high into the sky now.

Through the skies covered by dark clouds due to the Conductor’s dark domain, Baltesius ascended straight like an arrow.

“I got the plan. … But is it really okay?”

Nei, clinging to Baltesius’ back, questioned as a teacher.

Operation Royal One, named thus, was the most rational countermeasure.

This should stop the Conductor’s ambitions,

except for ignoring Ryuko’s intentions.

“It’s fine. I wanted to sit on that chair anyway. It looks fluffy. Plus, I can increase the budget for Baltesius plushies arbitrarily.”

“But that organization isn’t supposed to be for such things…”

“Ah, the wind suddenly got stronger! Can’t hear anything!”

Ryuko loudly erased inconvenient truths while covering her ears.

Then Rei poked her waist gently.

“About time. Here, we’re quite noticeable. Also, within my range.”

“Alright!”

Ryuko swung her arms around and declared spiritedly.

“Let’s start! Dragon Succession—Horus!”

By its master’s command, the dragon transformed.

Its scales turned redder, deep crimson feathers sprouted on wings previously covered by membranes. Its form evolved from a lizard to a falcon.

“Microphone—check! Usual cute smile—check! Charm—check!”

Ryuko opened several windows on Baltesius and finally slapped her cheeks while looking at the camera.

“Baltesius, let’s go!”

Upon her words, Baltesius began to glow.

It illuminated the entire Kroma instantly.

■

Suddenly, a dazzling light covered the heads of the exhausted students after battling Solciera.

Forgetting the fight, they looked up and saw a dragon.

Though it resembled a falcon, for Kroma students, knowing what it truly was common sense.

“It’s Ryuko…”

Whose voice was that?

In the hearts of people who fought desperately against despair, a sure hope arose.

Before they knew it, everyone had a premonition.

Of the upcoming dramatic reversal.

“Everyone! Are you fighting hard? … Oh, sorry, my voice doesn’t reach you here.”

Ryuko’s image facing the camera appeared suddenly on monitors across the city.

“What is Ryuko doing… Now’s not the time for that—”

For a moment distracted by Ryuko, a student remembered.

Solciera was approaching nearby.

But when they turned around with weapons ready, they found Solciera frozen solid.

“Right now, Rey is working extremely hard to freeze all the Solcieras… Or rather, Fake Sieras! Freeze them all. So, give me just a little time. A minute would do.”

“I can hold out for three minutes, Ryuko.”

“Then three minutes. … Hey, question for everyone! —Isn’t that Conductor guy super annoying!? Who knows who he even is, but look at him acting all high and mighty! And he’s probably old too. Definitely not like my bouncy skin!”

Ryuko continued spinning casual chat-like words on the monitor.

Her everyday manner made people realize they’d regained their calmness.

More than that, smiles had returned to their lips.

“I love Kroma festivals. Anything goes, and everyone’s smiling. Truly overflowing with happiness. That’s why I can’t forgive that guy. I don’t want anyone to cry because of someone like him. Starting today for five days, everyone should be happy. And it’s the day I top the popularity poll!”

Saying this, Ryuko pointed decisively.

“So, let’s ruin that guy’s plan together!”

With those words, windows popped up in front of each Kroma student. Forgotten despair, they looked at these windows with bemusement.

[Exciting! Adorable Ryuko’s Student Council President Election]

“What is this?”

“Eh…”

“She’s at it again…”

“Self-promotion S Rank”

“Didn’t she die from plushies last time…!?”

Students murmured various phrases.

Yet, all their expressions were bright.

“Now, there should be a voting page in front of everyone. Please cast a pure vote.”

One by one, hands reached out to the windows.

The outcome was decided from the start.

There was no need to express trust in Ryuko with words anymore.

“So, I can’t do anything alone, but with everyone, we can definitely manage! Therefore, I entrust everything to you all, and please give me everything you have!”

Tragedy turned into a new story in an instant.

Starting here, it would be a trite, commonplace tale without context or conflict.

Just a story singing the triumph of justice.

People called it a hero’s tale.

“… Ah, I already have approval from President Dia and Teacher Nei!”

“Yay! The evening show is scheduled to resume at 5 PM!”

Facing the camera, Ryuko and Nei made peace signs together.

They were completely the usual lighthearted teacher-student duo.

But that’s why the people of Kroma stood up.

Those who lacked strength searched for their maximum effort, and those who resisted faced forward.

“… Haha, if there’s another chance, I’ll definitely vote for Ryuko for popularity.”

Joking, believing in Ryuko, they faced the end-of-the-world scenario again.

Thus, the board was overturned by just one ordinary girl.

■

“Don’t mess with me! Extras aren’t allowed on stage without permission!”

The Conductor, who had witnessed everything, screamed, losing herself in anger. Unaware of Dia’s cold gaze, she yelled at the window while advancing.

“Corrections are necessary. It’s impossible for anyone other than Lady Nei to defeat me. … People unsuitable for the stage must be dragged down by my hand!”

The Conductor placed her hand on the wall.

Instantly, the wall crumbled like sand, revealing the scenery beyond.

The brilliantly shining Dawn Dragon.

Seeing it, the Conductor screamed.

“Ordinary people like you shouldn’t play the role of justice!”

Sand gathered around the Conductor’s feet.

“To kill. Lady Nei doesn’t need an incompetent disciple. A hero is lonely precisely because they are heroes!”

Proclaiming this firmly, the Conductor hurled herself outside the tower.

In that moment, the sand swallowed her up instantly.

Gradually gathering, the sand transformed into the shape of a hundred-meter-tall monstrous creature.

Scorpion-like claws and body, a tail shaped like a dragon.

The calamity governing imitation and infiltration—the Fifth Angel.

Its complete form manifested at this very moment.

“This stage requires… corrections!”

The Angel-Conductor shouted.

Noticing the massive monster emerging from the tower, Ryuko and the others became aware too.

“That’s the boss, huh? Creepy… Ugh, upon closer inspection, it’s made of human limbs squished together… Disgusting… Anyway, wait till the election ends. We’re still setting up!”

“I can’t fight now. Count on you, Ryuko.”

“I can’t handle that giant either. Alright, Ryuko, it’s up to you.”

“Eh…”

Reluctantly, Ryuko directed Baltesius’s head towards the angel.

The Dawn Dragon illuminating the sky and the chaotic monster plunging the world into darkness faced each other.

The scene was like a fairy tale.

“When the election ends, we can use the sanctuary. Just hang on a bit longer!”

“Shut up, brat!”

She controlled the angel and fired a converging beam at Ryuko.

An attack mimicking Solciera’s technology, capable of shattering stars, approached Ryuko.

In the Conductor’s eyes, only Ryuko, the obstacle, existed.

Therefore, she noticed the presence too late.

“—This is Star Pruning.”

The cloudy sky split, and suddenly a star fell.

It effortlessly shattered the Conductor’s beam and landed on the ground.

A massive crater formed centered around the landing point.

Its astonishing mass itself was a weapon.

Truly, nothing but a meteor could describe it. Seeing its form, Ryuko and the Conductor simultaneously screamed near-blasphemous names.

“‘Solciera!?’”

In the midst of dust and concrete that had become boiling magma, a single silver-haired girl stood.

“Finally, the main body of the angel has revealed itself. The prologue was so long, I almost fell asleep waiting.”

“Why is Solciera here…!? She was supposed to detain him…!?”

While the Conductor froze in shock, Solciera readied her large sickle.

Seeing her, Ryuko felt a sense of unease.

“… Hmm? Isn’t she smaller?”

Clearly smaller than the last time they met.

Probably about Rei’s height now.

The mysterious beautiful girl who exuded adult charm had somehow transformed into a childlike figure.

“Well, shall we dance? This is the main stage, right?”

“Foolishness!”

“Hey, isn’t she small? I’m not mistaken, am I?”

Thus, the stage was set with all the actors.

What would unfold next was the battle that would decide Kroma’s future, and perhaps the future of the entire Academy City.

And—

“Sorry, My Lord. I miscalculated the coordinates and ended up transferring above. Transfer magic is tricky, isn’t it?”

“Tricky?! What the hell! Why are you a Loli Solciera, man!”

It was Mysterious Beautiful Girl Time supervised by Lolicon preferences.

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