It's Already Too Late. EP.20

"...What? There's no reaction."

 

 

 

 

"Hmm..."

 

 

 

It's been a few minutes since they shoved that fear-injecting thing into my mouth.

 

 

 

But for some reason, even after several minutes, there's no change in my body due to fear.

 

 

 

Honestly, I even imagined fear and mystic clashing inside me, destroying my body from within.

 

 

 

"Ha... I knew it."

 

 

 

'There's no way I can die...'

 

 

 

It's my fate. A fate where I can't die in this place.

 

 

 

"No, I don't think you need to be so discouraged."

 

 

 

"Huh? What do you... Ugh!?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Sora-senpai!!!!"

 

 

 

Sora, who suddenly disappeared leaving only a letter, and the rest of Abydos who read her letter, couldn't accept this situation.

 

 

 

"What the hell are you talking about!! Disappearing without a word, leaving only a letter! Do you think we can accept this!?"

 

 

 

"Where did Sora go? We have to go save her right now. I'll go alone if I have to. Even if it inconveniences the General Student Council..."

 

 

 

"Everyone, quiet down! This isn't the time to fight among ourselves..."

 

 

 

"It's my fault..."

 

 

 

"Hoshino-senpai?"

 

 

 

At that moment, Hoshino, who had been silently hanging her head, spoke quietly.

 

 

 

"If I... If only I hadn't tried to accept it..."

 

 

 

"...Now that I think about it, the letter said Hoshino-senpai, was scouted? Then, that withdrawal letter from before..."

 

 

 

"What? Withdrawal letter? What are... Hoshino-senpai?!"

 

 

 

Hoshino, who had been muttering quietly, instead of answering her juniors' questions, suddenly picked up her weapon, the Eye of Horus, stood up, and said,

 

 

 

"I, the old lady, will take responsibility and bring Sora back no matter what, so you can wait at Abydos."

 

 

 

"What? What do you mean senpai, all of a sudden?"

 

 

 

"Yeah. If you're going, we're going too."

 

 

 

"No. This happened because of my mistake."

 

 

 

"Hoshino, Senpai..."

 

"B-But that's too dangerous! Even if it's Hoshino, Senpai..."

 

 

"It's okay. Even if something happens to me, I'll bring Sora back. So..."

 

 

 

With those final words, Hoshino turned away from everyone to leave Abydos, but-

 

 

 

"Wait a moment, Hoshino."

 

 

 

Sensei, who had been silent until now, stepped in front of her.

 

 

 

"I'm sorry, Sensei, don't stop me."

 

 

 

Hoshino warned Sensei with a murderous voice she had never shown before.

 

 

 

"Even if it's you, Sensei, if you try to stop me, it won't end easily."

 

 

 

She knew what might happen to Sora, so she couldn't afford to waste time.

 

 

 

But Sensei couldn't back down either.

 

 

 

"I'm sorry, but as a teacher, I can't just stand by and watch a student go to a dangerous place."

 

 

 

It was a situation where he, as an adult and a teacher, had to take responsibility.

 

 

 

"...Sensei."

 

 

 

"I understand your feelings, Hoshino, but you're not alone."

 

 

 

"...But!"

 

 

 

"Of course, it was wrong of you to try to do this secretly without explaining everything. But,"

 

 

 

"I have to take responsibility."

 

 

 

"...What?"

 

 

 

Hoshino looked at Sensei with a bewildered expression, but he continued.

 

 

 

"It's my fault for not preventing the situation from getting this bad, which led to you and Sora making those choices."

 

 

 

"So please, don't try to solve it alone, blaming yourself."

 

 

 

"You were just deceived by a bad adult."

 

 

 

"Sensei..."

 

 

 

"So, Hoshino,"

 

 

 

Sensei reached out his hand to Hoshino and said,

 

 

 

"Let's go save Sora together, not alone, with everyone from the Foreclosure Task Force."

 

 

 

"Because you're not alone, Hoshino."

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

After that, as Sora's letter stated, Kaiser attacked Abydos shortly after.

 

 

 

"Stop it! You guys!"

 

 

 

"Kaiser CEO, location confirmed!"

 

 

 

They were able to meet Kaiser CEO, the person responsible for all this.

 

 

 

"My, my. We were planning to visit the school, but you've come all the way here to greet us?"

 

 

 

"...So you used the condition of Sora becoming the student council president to do this..."

 

 

 

"Hmm? You already knew? Then we can get straight to the point."

 

 

 

"With Takanashi Sora, the new and final student council president of Abydos, withdrawing, the Abydos Student Council is now gone."

 

 

 

"Therefore, judging that Abydos, with no official clubs, student council, or autonomous district, cannot sustain itself as a school in Kivotos, our Kaiser Corporation, the owner of this district, will take over the school."

 

 

 

"Yes, I think the name 'Kaiser Private Vocational Training Academy' would be good for the new school."

 

 

 

The CEO confidently declared that they would remove Abydos High School and establish Kaiser's academy.

 

 

 

"Let's go, everyone."

 

 

 

"""""Yes!"""""

 

 

 

They were already filled with the intention to fight back,

 

 

 

"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. We walk the path of otherworldly realms without mercy or compassion. We should come out like that, right? Swimsuit Mask Gang."

 

 

 

With the unexpected help of Problem Solver 68, who appeared from behind, the fight became much easier.

 

 

 

"You guys-!! What's the meaning of this resistance?! How dare you...!!"

 

 

 

"You kidnapped my precious student."

 

 

 

"...!!"

 

 

 

"I'll have her back. Sora-chan."

 

 

 

After a fierce battle with Kaiser, they managed to win.

 

 

 

"Ugh, ugh! I'm retreating! Regroup the troops!"

 

 

 

"Y-Yes, sir!!"

 

 

 

"You guys...!! You'll pay dearly for this!"

 

 

 

"The enemy... is retreating."

 

 

 

"Man, that's a classic line from a third-rate villain."

 

 

 

"Just as we predicted. I hope the Prefect Team's results are the same..."

 

 

 

"Let's head back for now."

 

 

 

"...Yes, Sensei. The battle ahead from now on... will be much bigger and tougher than this."

 

 

 

"We need to go back and find a way to save Sora-senpai."

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

 

"The person is here, right?"

 

 

 

"...Yes."

 

 

 

After defeating Kaiser, as the sun set, Sensei, guided by Hoshino, arrived at the place where the person who had proposed a deal to Hoshino lived.

 

 

 

"But Sensei, are you sure you don't need me to come along? Isn't it dangerous for you to go alone?"

 

 

 

"It's okay. I have a few ways to protect myself, you know."

 

 

 

'And the conversation ahead isn't something a student should hear.'

 

 

 

Hoshino was worried and asked, but Sensei smiled and answered before stepping into the building.

 

 

 

"...I've been waiting. Sensei of Kivotos. I wanted to talk to you face to face."

 

 

 

As they entered the building, a man in a black suit, with smoke coming from his face, welcomed Sensei.

 

 

 

"...."

 

 

 

"....We know about you. The unfathomable existence was summoned by the General Student Council President. The owner of that opatsu. The teacher of the Federal Investigation Club, Schale."

 

 

 

"Others seem to underestimate you, but we have a different opinion."

 

 

 

"...Let's be clear first."

 

 

 

The man in the black suit interlaced his fingers and said.

 

 

 

"We have no intention of opposing you. On the contrary, we wish to cooperate."

 

 

 

"We judged that you would be the biggest obstacle to our plan."

 

 

 

"Wiping out a small school like Abydos is not a problem for us. But, Sensei, we want to avoid confronting you."

 

 

 

Hearing the man's words, Sensei spoke for the first time since arriving.

 

 

 

"Who are you?"

 

 

 

"....My, my. Haven't we introduced ourselves?"

 

 

 

"We too are outsiders of Kivotos like you... Ah, but we are beings from a different realm."

 

 

 

"For now, we're borrowing a suitable name. Please, call us 'Gematria.'"

 

 

 

"And as for me, 'Black Suit' is fine, Sensei. I like this name."

 

 

 

"We are... observers, explorers, researchers."

 

 

 

"Shall we say, unfathomable beings like you?"

 

 

 

"Just in case, I'll ask, are you willing to cooperate with Gematria?"

 

 

 

The man in the black suit proposed cooperation to Sensei, but naturally,

 

 

 

"Absolutely not."

 

 

 

Sensei refused the offer without hesitation.

 

 

 

"...Then, what are you seeking in this Kivotos? This is an offer that could grant you truth and arcane secrets."

 

 

 

"I'm not interested in that. I'm just here to get Sora back."

 

 

 

"....Kuk, kukuku."

 

 

 

"Do you think your actions are right, Sensei? By what right are you making such demands?"

 

 

 

"Sora is no longer a student of Abydos, according to the deal. Didn't you check the withdrawal letter?"

 

 

 

Indeed, Sensei had confirmed Sora's withdrawal letter along with her letter.

 

 

 

However,

 

 

 

"Sora didn't withdraw."

 

 

 

"....Hmm?"

 

 

 

Sensei spoke confidently to the man in the black suit.

 

 

 

"As the club advisor, I didn't approve that document."

 

 

 

"......"

 

 

 

"Sora is still a member of the Foreclosure Task Force, still the president of the Abydos Student Council, and still my student."

 

 

 

"I see... As long as you are her teacher, a student's whereabouts require your permission... I understand. So it's about that..."

 

 

 

"School and student... Teacher... Hmm... This concept is quite troublesome."

 

 

 

Seeing the man in the black suit deeming it troublesome, Sensei suppressed his anger and said,

 

 

 

"You deceived children, trampled on their hearts, and exploited their pain."

 

 

 

"Ah, yes. We profited from the misfortune of others as sustenance."

 

 

 

"I won't deny it. Our actions are clearly evil."

 

 

 

"But they are lawful."

 

 

 

"......"

 

 

 

Sensei naturally frowned at those words, but

 

 

 

"Don't misunderstand, Sensei."

 

 

 

Seeing his expression, the man in the black suit added an explanation.

 

 

 

"The disaster at Abydos is not our responsibility. The sandstorm that hit the school is not common, but it can happen. In other words, it's a natural disaster."

 

 

 

"We merely took advantage of the opportunity."

 

 

 

"Providing water to someone dying of dehydration in the desert. But at a price that requires a lifetime of servitude to repay."

 

 

 

"It's like that."

 

 

 

"It's a common story in this world. It's not our responsibility. We didn't create it, and it won't disappear if we stop."

 

 

 

"Those with power exploit those without. Those with knowledge exploit those without."

 

 

 

"Isn't that a fact known to every adult?"

 

 

 

"So... withdraw from Abydos, Sensei."

 

 

 

The man in the black suit spoke as if telling him to give up.

 

 

 

"If you just give up on Sora, everything will be resolved cleanly."

 

 

 

"Don't you know? Thanks to Sora's noble sacrifice, Abydos is now safe."

 

 

 

"The Kaiser PMC forces will also be dealt with soon."

 

 

 

"So the children will be able to attend school at Abydos somehow."

 

 

 

"That's what Sora wanted too, isn't it?"

 

 

 

But even so,

 

 

 

"I refuse."

 

 

 

Sensei did not accept the man's offer.

 

 

 

"...Why? Do you intend to oppose us to that extent? You are powerless! How do you plan to fight?"

 

 

 

At the man's words, Sensei pulled out that card.

 

 

 

Adult Card.

 

 

 

".....But, Sensei... That is your only weapon, and I vaguely understand the risk."

 

 

 

"The more you use it, the more it wears away. Your life, your time... Am I correct?"

 

 

 

"...."

 

 

 

"So put that card away, Sensei. You have your own life to live."

 

 

 

"You have to eat, take the subway, pay rent, and deal with all those meaningless and trivial things."

 

 

 

"Do that, Sensei. Use it for something more important than those children."

 

 

 

"Just leave it alone. This matter is practically over."

 

 

 

"Besides, it's none of your business. Just give up."

 

 

 

"I refuse."

 

 

 

But Sensei refused the offer again, not backing down.

 

 

 

"Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?"

 

 

 

"I don't understand. Why? I don't understand. Why do you refuse?"

 

 

 

"Why, Sensei? What reason is there in a story that's already over? What for, to this extent?"

 

 

 

To the man who couldn't understand, Sensei spoke as if it were obvious.

 

 

 

"No adult took responsibility for the children's pain."

 

 

 

"...What do you mean? So you're going to take responsibility? You're not their guardian, nor their family."

 

 

 

"You were just called to Abydos and happened to meet those children. You're a stranger."

 

 

 

"Why are you going to such lengths? Why take on unnecessary responsibility?"

 

 

 

"Because that's what an adult must do."

 

 

 

"...Ah... I see. So you're saying 'an adult is someone who takes responsibility'?"

 

 

 

But the man in the black suit denied it and said,

 

 

 

"No, Sensei. That idea is wrong."

 

 

 

"An adult is someone who reshapes society as they wish, sets laws, sets rules, determines what's normal and abnormal, ordinary and extraordinary."

 

 

 

"Someone who rules those without power with power, those without knowledge with knowledge, those without strength with strength. That is what an adult is."

 

 

 

"Someone like you."

 

 

 

"....You could have become the ruler of this Kivotos."

 

 

 

"The immense power and authority of this city. The mysteries of this city. All of it was once in your hands."

 

 

 

"But you gave it up without hesitation."

 

 

 

"I don't understand."

 

 

 

"What meaning is there in that choice? Truth and arcane secrets, power, money, strength... Why make a meaningless choice where you gain nothing?"

 

 

 

To the man speaking almost pleadingly, Sensei expressed disgust and said,

 

 

 

"...Even if I told you, you would never understand."

 

 

 

"....Very well. Negotiations are over, Sensei. I liked you, but it can't be helped."

 

 

 

"Sensei, do you want to save Sora?"

 

 

 

"Sora is in the laboratory at the center of the PMC base in the Abydos desert."

 

 

 

"But as I said before, Sensei, this story is already over. In other words,"

 

 

 

"It's too late."

 

 

 

"...What do you mean?"

 

 

 

Sensei felt an ominous premonition and pressed the man in the black suit.

 

 

 

"We observed the other side of mystery through 'Mimesis,' which is fear. We orchestrated this incident to see if we could apply it to a living student."

 

 

 

"And."

 

 

 

*****

 

"Aaaaaagh!!! Aaaaaagh!!!!"

 

*****

 

"We've already started the experiment."

 

"But if you still want to save her, try rescuing your kidnapped student."

 

"Let's see how well you do."