Episode 67: War and Assistance
The Four Great Academies.
They are the overarching term for the academies that possess the greatest power in Academy City, sometimes even surpassing that of a nation.
Mikage Academy, Kisou Academy, Senkai Academy, Jilnias Academy.
These four academies could even be called the smallest of nations, owning many relics and explorers through modern dungeons.
Thus, it is an unspoken rule among the Four Great Academies to avoid conflict with each other.
A clash between these massive academies could potentially shake the very existence of Academy City.
If ever a conflict were to arise, it would signify the collapse of the current balance.
“…What does Mikage Academy want with us?”
Chiaki Nishijou, the vice-chairperson of Kisou Academy’s Discipline Committee, immediately halted all remaining committee members upon realizing the intruder was a student from Mikage Academy.
Not only was it uncertain how the opponent would attack, but engaging in battle with a student from Mikage Academy was also undesirable.
“My target is actually the weakling students over there. I believe they’re from Factom General Academy? They’re suspected of trespassing into an important experimental facility in the central district. I’ll be taking them into custody.”
“That’s not possible.”
A black-haired male student smiled kindly and readied his white blade.
That was his response.
“Do you understand? If we fight here, the balance between the academies will collapse. You’d also give us a reason to invade your academy.”
“We’ve intended that from the start. Besides, righteousness is on our side.”
The girl standing beside the male student said this while operating her Dive Gear to display a document on the window.
“This is evidence that Kisou Academy has been conducting illegal human experiments. Abducting students from other schools for human experimentation—don’t you think you’ve gotten a bit too carried away?”
“…Tch, did someone up top screw up?”
Although Chiaki didn’t know the specifics of what had happened, she understood that something illicit happening higher up had been exposed.
“But, I don’t get why you guys are moving because of this. Since when did Mikage Academy start acting like the police? What do you gain by protecting such people?”
Kisou Academy’s misconduct wasn’t something that just started recently.
Other academies might criticize their actions, but direct intervention never occurred.
This was because they maneuvered carefully to avoid giving others any excuse to act against them.
As if waiting for Chiaki’s question, the girl grinned.
“Haven’t you attacked one of our students in this incident? You provoked us first.”
Pointing in a certain direction revealed a boy with silver hair.
From his uniform, he was clearly a student from Factom General Academy.
“…Huh?”
“The boy over there, Na Takikai, is a student at Mikage Academy. He’s currently enrolled at Factom General Academy, but coincidentally, his enrollment data at our academy hasn’t been erased yet. Oh my, what a mistake.”
“Are you saying…?”
Chiaki quickly understood what had happened.
The existence of a youth who was simultaneously a student at both Factom General Academy and Mikage Academy.
What would happen if someone within the autonomous zone attacked such a person?
“You intend to start a war using him as an excuse!?”
“That’s right.”
With a loud “Pang,” a nearby discipline committee member was shot and fell down.
“At first, we couldn’t move, but now that we have the noble-sounding audio data from the professor and the excuse of saving our own Na Takikai, things are different. Isn’t that right, Student Council Treasurer, Gata Tourak?”
“Yeah, that’s right. So, let me restate—Student Council Treasurer, Gata Tourak. Starting now, Mikage Academy hereby dissolves its alliance with Kisou Academy among the Four Great Academies.”
“Do you even realize what you’re saying!?”
“I do. Eventually, I thought we’d have to take you down anyway. Plus, the Student Council President agreed with us.”
Tourak readied his sword.
Chiaki hastily prepared her spear, but in the next moment, all the other discipline committee members except herself had collapsed onto the ground.
There was no shock, no wind.
Only the sound of slicing through the air was heard once.
And just like that, the Discipline Committee was annihilated.
“Hmm, I can still only cut through C-rank opponents.”
“Damn it, what did you do… How, how could this happen!”
In a near-frenzy, Chiaki shouted. Just as she was about to charge forward…
“It’s no good. Calm down, calm down~”
Suddenly, a girl appeared and tapped Chiaki on the shoulder.
Startled by the unexpected touch, Chiaki looked at the girl’s face and sighed in relief.
“Chairman Kiraku!”
“Yes yes, it’s your beloved Chairman Kiraku of the Discipline Committee~”
Her long black hair shone beautifully under the moonlight, fitting her presence like a true Yamato Nadeshiko.
After patting Chiaki’s head, Kiraku elegantly smiled at Tourak.
“They want to make a big fuss over there, so go ahead and kill them without restraint. Trying to persuade them with words is too naive.”
“Chairman Kiraku!?”
Kiraku materialized a naginata from her Dive Gear and poised it gracefully.
“To be honest, I’ve never liked Mikage Academy either. Apparently, they’ve even let some failure of the Gatou family join the Student Council.”
“…Sister Kiraku”
“Don’t call me sister just because of some distant blood relation. I’m a failed branch family member, after all.”
“Hey, Chairman Kiraku, are you really going to fight? Because if you do, this is serious warfare for us…”
“Very soon, the main force of the Discipline Committee will arrive. It’s going to be fun, isn’t it?”
“Ugh… Without Senior Rokuhara around, it always ends up like this…”
Looking at Chiaki, who seemed close to tears, and Kiraku, who couldn’t contain her excitement, Tourak turned to the students of Factom General Academy behind him and said,
“As you’ve heard, a battle between Mikage Academy and Kisou Academy is about to begin. Your actions will likely get lost in the chaos of this major conflict.”
“…Thank you, for helping us.”
Upon Mizuki’s words, Tourak nodded without turning around.
“With this, we haven’t truly helped anyone, Kei.”
Kei remained silent.
He merely glanced at Tourak and Mihaya once before urging his companions towards the gate and disappearing beyond it himself.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“…Will Kei hate me for doing something reckless?”
“Huh? What? Are you worried about that guy? With me around?”
Glaring fiercely, Tourak fully utilized his Demon’s Gear-enhanced physical abilities to look away.
“No, it’s not like that. It’s just… helping him like this feels like it might hurt him.”
“You’re overthinking it. Besides, considering he’s already battling Six Waves Rokuhara under the grand name of Solciera, he’s not the type to care about such trivial matters.”
“…Is that so?”
“That’s right. By the way, I almost forgot to tease him about his Gothic Lolita outfit. Is that his style?”
“Absolutely not. It seems Factom General Academy’s students are hiding his true identity.”
“Then I’ll tease him when he’s not around.”
Smiling mischievously like a prankster, Mihaya suddenly launched an unexpected attack towards Kiraku.
However, the bullet stopped right in front of Kiraku and rolled lightly on the ground with a soft sound.
“Just as I heard, you have troublesome abilities.”
“The ability to manipulate acceleration and deceleration around oneself. Be careful, Mihaya. She ranks high among the Gatou clan.”
Kiraku smiled cheerfully as she readied her naginata.
“Oh, please. High ranking or not, being born into the Gatou family means we must claim the title of strongest out of pride. Come on, Chiaki too.”
“…Damn it, I don’t care anymore! Let’s do this!”
Chiaki recklessly prepared her spear and charged forward first.
“I’ll lead the charge. Mihaya, provide support.”
“Leave it to me!”
Thus began the conflict between Mikage Academy and Kisou Academy, two colossal academies.
ni hyōi tensei shita ore wa TS o akiramenai, かませ役
