Abydos of a Midsummer Night (9) - 13

Abydos High School in the morning.

 

 

Ayane spreads a map on the desk, showing the location of the Kaiser PMC base.

 

 

"This is the most recent satellite image. This huge area is all Kaiser territory."

 

 

"It seems there's not a single inch of error. Even the surrounding land is Kaiser's. Although it's within the Abydos autonomous district, there's nothing Abydos can do."

 

 

Sensei rests her chin on her left hand and narrows her eyes. Serika questions Sensei's words.

 

 

"Why? It's still Abydos, right? Even if they bought it as private land, aren't we in charge?"

 

 

"You could see it that way, but even if it's a PMC-owned base... we can't do anything if that base hasn't threatened Abydos, Serika-chan. The PMC did attack us through a commission, but it wasn't something done from that base under the PMC. Besides, we stole the ledger that proves it..."

 

 

Nonomi, the young lady from the large corporation Nephthys, is well aware of the problem at hand.

 

 

Kaiser is clearly the enemy. The enemy that attacked Abydos. But there's no evidence that isn't disadvantageous to Abydos, and moreover, since the PMC base is private land, Abydos can't just investigate it. Of course, even if Sensei used their authority to investigate, the PMC would have to agree. Even if Sensei is the acting General Student Council President, he hasn't been here long, so his current power has clear limits for conducting a surprise inspection.

 

 

Furthermore, Kaiser is a large corporation always ready to cover up the truth. Therefore, they can't do anything about the suspicious base in Abydos.

 

 

"We know they're excavating something there... There are many such stories."

 

 

"Kaiser has been around since Nephthys' railway industry plan in the past."

 

 

Shiroko also knows about Kaiser's excavation work. There are rumors that they are excavating something, and Nonomi, who was once with Nephthys, knew that much.

 

 

"The problem is, depending on what it is~ Maybe it's artifacts or resources?"

 

 

"What? Then it means they're just stealing our resources after all!"

 

 

Hoshino guesses that it's probably artifacts, which was an infuriating story for Serika. Abydos' artifacts had already been sold off to Trinity on a large scale to raise funds for rebuilding after Abydos' downfall in the past... so most of Abydos' artifacts were no longer in Abydos.

 

 

The fact that historical resources and valuable artifacts were falling into Kaiser's hands was, of course, unpleasant for the students from Abydos. Moreover, the other party are debtors who owe Abydos money.

 

 

Because the previous seniors sold the land, the current juniors, who had nothing to do with it, are the only ones suffering. They can only resent the unknown seniors. And, Hoshino's resentment was enormous.

 

 

If the seniors sold it, it must have been Yume's seniors. The student council seniors who left, leaving only Yume behind. Thinking of Yume, who tried to revive Abydos alone until Hoshino came, Hoshino was outwardly smiling, but inwardly choked with emotion.

 

 

"Still, there's one thing we can do."

 

 

"What's that, Sensei?"

 

 

"We might be able to take a tour."

 

 

"A tour, you mean?"

 

 

Ayane tilts her head at Sensei's words that a tour might be possible... Nonomi roughly understands what she means.

 

"I see, as the Abydos student council, we'll inspect a company operating in Abydos. Kaiser might refuse, but it's worth a try."

 

 

"Is there any point in that?"

 

 

"Yes, there is. To figure out infiltration routes for later."

 

 

"Hehe~ Infiltration, what does that mean, Shiroko-chan~? Well, it wouldn't hurt to know~"

 

 

They can't fight Kaiser right now, but if they can get evidence to deal a blow to Kaiser PMC, they can at least fight. There must be something important at the PMC base in Abydos. Sensei wants to grasp the geography of the base as preparation for obtaining it later.

 

 

First, they send an official letter in the name of Hoshino, the vice-president... Around lunchtime, a reply comes.

 

 

"They said it's okay?"

 

 

"Really!?"

 

 

"Don't get your hopes up too much, Serika. They'll probably hide everything we're not supposed to see."

 

 

Sensei sips tea and responds as if it's obvious.

 

 

"I see... But why did we have to send an official letter?"

 

 

"If we talk like this in advance, they can prepare too. We're not going to collect important evidence right now. Just knowing the inside is beneficial. If we suddenly showed up to get evidence, we'd be turned away. It's Kaiser's PMC that handles their military force, so it would be difficult to sneak in."

 

 

"As Nonomi-senpai said, there's meaning in just getting into the base."

 

 

"Then, I'll prepare the car."

 

 

Ayane stays at school, and the group heads to the PMC base in a vehicle.

 

 

"But, is it okay for you to go like that~? Sensei. Even if you're coming along."

 

 

"...It's fine, Hoshino."

 

 

Sensei, in the form of Ryuuge Kisaki, the leader of the Shanhaijing Xuanlong Gate and the student council president of Shanhaijing. Going to the Kaiser base like this might be a problem... but Shanhaijing is so secretive and close to isolationist, and Kaiser probably wouldn't bother informing Shanhaijing of Kisaki's appearance, so Sensei is trying to use Kisaki's appearance.

 

 

Hoshino thought it might be a problem if the student council president of a large academy like Shanhaijing were there... but they decided to trust Sensei.

 

 

They arrive at the PMC base. As they park the car and get out, a large man is standing at the entrance

 

 

 

"You've come, Abydos."

 

 

{That person is, a director of Kaiser PMC...}

 

 

The Kaiser PMC director was personally welcoming the Abydos students.

 

 

"Our debtors, wanting to tour this place now... Are you curious?"

 

 

"It's more of an inspection than a tour. Even if it's become Kaiser's private land, it's still in the Abydos autonomous district."

 

 

"...What business does the Shanhaijing's Humble Monarch have with Abydos?"

 

 

The PMC director shows suspicion and caution towards Sensei. Sensei chuckles at that.

 

 

"We're close, you see? I'll wait here if it's not okay."

 

 

"...Would you do that? Abydos has an appointment, but Shanhaijing doesn't."

 

 

"Sure, I'll wait."

 

 

Sensei played the role of Kisaki. It wouldn't be good if it became known that Sensei was involved here. The Problem Solver already knows, but there's no way the Problem Solver, who failed their commission, would bother revealing Sensei's existence.

 

 

Of course, the PMC director recognized Mina, who appeared in the previous battle between the Problem Solver and Abydos, and actually surmised that Shanhaijing and Abydos might have some kind of relationship. Although that Mina was Sensei.

 

 

Problems might arise if Shanhaijing suddenly intervened... but for now, the director decided to trust his business partner in the black suit and see how things unfold. He takes only the Foreclosure Task Force students and goes into the base. Sensei sits in the car, puts on an earphone, and communicates with Ayane to monitor the internal situation.

 

 

As rumored, it was an excavation site where something was being dug up. However, the security was as tight as a military facility.

 

 

"There's definitely something there, but infiltration would be difficult..."

 

 

Sensei judges that while there is definitely something there, it would be difficult to infiltrate and secure evidence without being detected, given that it's like a military facility.

 

 

Afterward, Sensei welcomes the Abydos students who come out of the facility.

 

 

"Then, go carefully. We wouldn't want anything to happen to our debtors."

 

 

"Don't say unlucky things at the end..."

 

 

Serika expresses displeasure at the director's words, and the director asks a question.

 

 

"But, I'm curious. Why are you fulfilling the debt? Your debt isn't a personal one, but the school's. You pay a large amount of interest every month, but when do you plan to pay off the principal?"

 

 

"...We can pay it off."

 

 

The director laughs heartily at Shiroko's words.

 

 

"Is that so? That's a truly dreamy statement. Why bother going through such hardships? We're talking about hundreds of millions of won, right? That's money ordinary people can't earn in their entire lives. They can earn it, but they can't save that much. And you, as students? Kukuk, even that vice-president couldn't do it, could she?"

 

 

""........""

 

Everyone except Hoshino sends him a glare filled with displeasure at the director's words, but then he strokes his chin and laughs.

 

 

"I still don't understand. You, a genius who was called an elite and was noticed by Kaiser, why do you remain in Abydos? Ah... Or is it that? Were you influenced by that foolish student council president?"

 

 

 

 

Click!

 

 

Hearing Yume being mentioned, Hoshino momentarily loses her temper and points her gun. However, Sensei steps in front of her and lowers the gun.

 

 

"Calm down, it's an obvious tactic."

 

 

"...I'm sorry."

 

 

"Kukut, the Humble Monarch is smart."

 

 

It's unlikely Hoshino would do it, but if she were to fire, it would be a big problem. No, even if she didn't fire... just taking a picture of the scene would be dangerous. If it spread to the media, Abydos, which had been receiving little attention, would start to get bad attention.

 

 

In that respect, the PMC director is cunning, as befits a director of a large corporation. Sensei stops Hoshino and gets into the car. The director sneers as he sees them off, and Hoshino's mood seems disturbed throughout the car ride.

 

 

It's already evening by the time they arrive at school. Hoshino walks listlessly down the hallway. Everyone is worried about Hoshino, and Sensei approaches her.

 

 

"Hoshino."

 

 

"Ah... Sensei. Sorry, I just lost my temper for a moment?"

 

 

"This."

 

 

Sensei throws a piece of paper to Hoshino. It was Hoshino's signed letter of withdrawal.

 

 

"...Where did you get this?"

 

 

"Shiroko gave it to me this morning. You didn't know?"

 

 

"Shiroko-chan~ Peeking into other people's bags, you're a bad girl~"

 

 

"Are you serious, Hoshino?"

 

 

"..."

 

"I'll listen to your story, I will."

 

 

In the hallway lit by the moonlight, Sensei leans against the wall and looks at Hoshino. Hoshino smiles wryly and says.

 

 

"It's just~ People say adults always carry a resignation letter, right? That's what it is~"

 

 

"...Does that mean it's not the case now?"

 

 

"I wrote that a long time ago... before Nonomi enrolled~ You see, Sensei. When I enrolled, Abydos School was still the main building. It was a big school, but now it's buried in sand. This is the annex where I often came with Senpai. It had already started to be buried in sand during our time, so the student council moved here too."

 

 

Placing her hand on the window, Hoshino looks at the brilliantly shining full moon. She reminisces about the past days with Yume, thinking about the difficult but joyful memories of those days. And also, the regret of not being able to do anything for Yume and hurting her.

 

 

Hoshino has already made up her mind.

 

 

She decided to do for her juniors what she couldn't do before. The only way to pay off the debt... was to join hands with the black suit.

 

 

She didn't want to trouble Sensei, who had given her precious memories. She wanted to help her juniors with her own hands. Believing that even without her, Sensei would take good care of her juniors after returning to Schale.

 

 

"Sensei, I-"

 

 

Hoshino told her story.

 

 

"I'll explain to the others tomorrow~ I won't withdraw or anything, so don't worry, Sensei."

 

 

Hoshino says goodbye and tries to leave...

 

 

"I'll figure something out. So, trust me."

 

 

"..."

 

 

"Trust me, trust Sensei, trust adults, Hoshino."

 

 

"...Hehe, of course I trust you. Sensei."

 

 

Hoshino says that and leaves the hallway, leaving the school. Sensei watches Hoshino's retreating figure...

 

 

And that was Hoshino's last appearance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning.

 

 

Hoshino's letter of withdrawal is on the desk.

 

 

Everyone in the Foreclosure Task Force is looking at it with heavy hearts, and they're ready to storm into Kaiser after seeing Hoshino's letter... but Sensei comes and picks up the letter of withdrawal.

 

 

Riiip!

 

 

He tears the letter of withdrawal to shreds.

 

 

"There's no way I'd accept this."

 

 

"Sensei..."

 

 

"As her advisor, I haven't accepted it, so this is invalid."

 

 

"Yeah, it's invalid. But, where are you going? Sensei."

 

 

"Where else... I'm going to find where Hoshino is. Trust me and wait."