Chapter 78: Conclusion

Reuniting with Asiri’s mechanical bird, the Squad and Mayumi sprinted toward Sensei’s location.

“Ow ow ow ow ow!? You damn bird!! Why won’t you warm up to your own creator!? I’ll roast you for this!!”

“Stop it!? You’ll break Pee-chan!!”

“Even if you did roast it, it’s still a machine—you couldn’t eat it anyway.”

Even while trading their usual half-hearted banter, they followed the mechanical bird’s lead and pressed on.

“Listen, okay!? Around Sensei there are, um—like ten of those, what are they called—Mimesis things! Sensei was lying under the rubble!”

“It’s almost like they’re guarding him…”

“……”

Azusa suddenly remembered something Suou had said a year ago.
—I thought it might be the key to saving everyone.

Looking back, Suou must have already foreseen this outcome, even then.

No one knew Sensei better than Azusa. A little playful, physically weak, and often unreliable—but when his students were in danger, he always acted with unwavering resolve. That was who he was.

Suou must have wanted one thing from Sensei: protection under the Arius Branch. She’d planned for it from the start, knowing she herself would one day disappear.

“We’re almost there!”

“—!”

Azusa pulled her hood down to hide her distinctive white hair and tightened her gas mask. Even Sensei couldn’t be allowed to recognize her.

The thought gnawed at her—how could she have missed it? Whether it was Suou or Mika, she’d thought she understood them both. But she hadn’t even begun to grasp it. There was something about Kirihana Suou that made that possible.

“We’ve arrived…”

“Haah… right.”

Her ragged breathing, weighted with impatience and guilt, steadied again at Mayumi’s voice.

“…We’ll handle the Justina Council of Saints. Mayumi, you go to Sensei.”

“They’re not kind enough to let me just walk past them, you know?”

“……”

Rejecting Saori’s plan with a hint of sarcasm, Mayumi dropped her metal business case to the ground. In an instant, the box unfolded, releasing a swarm of various drones.

“…That’s a lot.”

“I simplified their command structures so I can control multiple units at once. It fries my brain, though.”

Muttering as she worked, Mayumi activated every drone through her control terminal and readied herself for battle.

“Asiri, you go to Sensei. I’ll take care of these things.”

“‘Take care of’—wait, what!?”

“If they can respawn infinitely, we’ll just keep killing them. We’ve got people who can do that.”

She exchanged looks with Saori and the others, each giving a silent nod of understanding.

“And one more thing—your bird might not have enough lift to carry him. I’m giving you control access for these drones. Use them as needed. Also, take this.”

“Huh? Perfume?”

“Ammonium carbonate.”

A pungent chemical—basically smelling salts.

“T-that’s kind of harsh…”

“This isn’t the time to complain. Go.”

“…F-fine! I’m going!!”

Half in desperation, Asiri took off, leading several drones with her.

“…How well can you fight?”

“Hmm… probably not as well as you, Saori Joumae. But I’ll manage.”

With drones circling protectively around her, Mayumi raised her submachine gun—her weapon of choice.

“I see. Then… Arius Squad, all units—move out.”

“I’m not technically part of the Squad, you know!?”

At Saori’s signal, everyone scattered to fulfill their roles.

Hiyori moved to find a sniping position—if she could remain undetected, that would be a major advantage. Saori and Azusa charged forward, engaging two members of the Justina Council of Saints in close combat.

Naturally, the Council didn’t sit idle. Two more moved to reinforce their comrades—

“Not happening.”

A burst of fire erupted from Misaki’s rocket launcher. The blast didn’t hit, but it disrupted their movement—exactly as planned.

“There.”

The council member who had leapt to evade the explosion landed right into Atsuko’s line of fire. She pulled the trigger; the bullet struck true, leaving a flickering, ember-like burn across the target’s body.

“What the hell… no blood? That’s not human—that’s, like, an actual ghost!?”

Watching the Squad’s seamless coordination, Mayumi was briefly impressed—until a horrifying thought struck her.

“Y-you’ve gotta be kidding me!! Fine, I’ll knock you all flat! Then you won’t be ghosts anymore!!”

Charging forward with her drones, she deflected incoming gunfire with projected shields. Bullets ricocheted—once, twice, three times.

“Ricochet… angle calculated… there!!”

Three weakened rounds, each perfectly aligned, converged on the Council along with her own shots.

“Just as planned! Perfect!!”

“Watch out!”

“Huh? Oh crap—!?”

She managed to damage one of them, but her brief lapse in focus allowed another to sneak close. Atsuko’s warning came too late.

“What are you doing—!”

The enemy in front of her was suddenly kicked aside.

“—!? S-Saori Joumae!?”

“Don’t drop your guard.”

“Y-yeah, my bad…! What about those two!?”

Realizing how much her combat instincts had dulled, Mayumi focused on the two fallen council members.

“…The ones we defeat just turn to dust and vanish. Time to take them down… four minutes, give or take. That’s cutting it close, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. But if we can just buy time, that’s enough.”

From their earlier skirmish, it was clear—these monsters were unlike any Mayumi had ever fought.

Ordinary humans subconsciously hold back when attacking another person. Every student does, even those from Millennium—except in extreme cases.

“…But they don’t have that. It’s terrifying, really.”

“Scared?”

“Not at all. Thanks for saving me earlier… leave the support work to me!”

She directed several drones toward Azusa, who was still locked in combat with a council member. A small can dropped from one of the drones.

“Shoot it!”

“Got it!”

When the bullet hit, a cloud of smoke burst out. The drone carrying it dove toward the council member’s face—and detonated.

“Tear gas! That one’s neutralized! Move to the next!”

“You…”

“If they’re going to revive anyway, there’s no point wasting time finishing them off, right?”

“…Yeah. You’re right.”

Taking mild interest in Mayumi’s reasoning, Saori threw herself back into the fray.

“Phew… chaotic battlefield. The optimal role here is support and awareness.”

Launching a camera-equipped drone overhead, Mayumi muttered as she tracked the ongoing fight. The Council noticed quickly and targeted her.

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing!?”

But Misaki’s rocket intercepted before they could act.

“Eleven enemies in total. Two neutralized—no, they revived. Three-minute intervals. Saori and Azusa can handle them solo. Hiyori’s still hidden—she could eliminate one in a single shot. Mid-range support from Misaki’s firepower and Atsuko’s rapid attacks. But Misaki can’t use heavy ordnance—it could affect Sensei. Most are evenly matched, except two… those two are on another level. Remaining drones… okay, I’ve decided.”

She closed her screen abruptly and issued commands.

“All units!! Follow my instructions!!”

“What are you doing on your own… do you have a plan?”

“I do!! This is the most efficient approach!!”

“So what do we do, leader?”

Mayumi paused to think before answering Misaki’s question.

“…Let’s trust her.”

“Okay. Here, take a spare communicator.”

“Thanks, that helps.”

Placing the communicator in her ear, Mayumi brought the mic close to her mouth.

“Misaki, stay hidden. Saori, Azusa—don’t finish them off, just neutralize. An arm or leg is enough. I’ll support you with Atsuko and Hiyori. Hiyori, target the two strong ones when the timing’s right.”

“Y-yes… understood…!”

Hiyori’s hesitant reply made Mayumi smile faintly—it reminded her a little of Asiri. Then she charged back into battle.

“Ugh…! I-it’s so dark…! I’m scared…!”

Asiri crept through the rubble, peering ahead with the night vision camera mounted on her yellow bird.

“Pee-chan, are the coordinates ready…?”

“Pii…”

A disappointed chirp. It seemed Sensei’s location was still far off.

“M-Mayumi and the others… I don’t know how long they can hold out…! We have to hurry, Pee-chan!!”

“Pip!!”

She accelerated alongside the drones—when suddenly—

“…!?”

One of the drones was shot down. Frantically scanning her surroundings, Asiri spotted a replicated Mimesis of the Justina Council hiding behind a rock.

The moment it realized she’d seen it, it vanished again.

“This is bad… I have to get out of here…!”

Judging by the weapon, it was a sniper rifle—powerful, but with limited shots.

“U-Use the drones as decoys…!?”

Another drone went down. Not the bird this time, but one under her control.

“N-no… this is bad…!”

Those drones were meant to carry Sensei if he didn’t wake up. Losing two meant fewer options.

“…I have to hurry anyway!”

She regained speed, weaving between rocks. Then something snagged—a wire—and a sharp ping rang through her headset.

“…A wire trap?”

A moment later, heat and flame exploded around her.

“Ghh…!! Pee-chan!! Are you okay!?”

“…”

No response. Switching the camera, she saw part of the bird’s wing had been damaged—and most of her drones were destroyed in the blast.

“N-no, no, no…! This can’t…! I was entrusted with this…!”

Panicking, she tried to move forward—and her camera caught sight of the same Council member as before.

“Eek…!?”

A gunshot rang out. The screen went black.

“Asiri, are you okay?”

“…?”

It was a familiar voice. Gentle. Calm. Comforting.

“…S-Sensei!? You’re safe!?”

“Thanks to you.”

“G-get away, quick!! There’s a Council member right there…!”

But as she tried to warn him, the enemy froze in place.

“…Looks like they’re letting us through.”

“W-why…? Sensei, that gunshot earlier!! Are you hurt!? Let me see! If it’s even a scratch, I can—!”

“No, I’m fine.”

Sensei spoke softly, stroking the tablet in his hands.

“A capable child is protecting me, after all.”

“…? A-anyway!! I’ll explain later—just follow me! I’ll contact Mayumi and the others!”

“Thank you. I’ll follow your lead.”

Guided by Asiri, Sensei stepped out from the rubble.

“Now, Imashino Misaki!! Go all out!!”

“I hate being ordered around, but… got it.”

At Mayumi’s command, Misaki unleashed her attack. The gathered Justina Council members were engulfed in a massive explosion. Almost all of them vanished at once—except for the one Mayumi had identified as the strongest.

“Mayumi! Sensei’s safe!!”

“…Nice work, Asiri!! You can do it when you try!!”

“Hehe…”

Praising Asiri with genuine relief, Mayumi immediately switched her comms channel to the rest of the Squad.

“Asiri has secured Sensei!! No need to hold them off any longer!”

“Which means…!”

“Plan 36!! The only option is to run!!”

“Somehow, you make it sound so easy.”

They had bought themselves a small window of time by taking out most of the council members. But their bodies, worn and heavy from battle, weren’t keeping up as well as their minds. Steeling herself, Mayumi prepared for one final push.

“…Wait… they’ve stopped moving…?”

Without warning, every Justina Council member froze in place.

“Is this… could it be…?”

“Doesn’t matter what the cause is!! We’re getting out of here!!”

Atsuko hesitated, trying to process what was happening, but Mayumi dismissed it outright. They had no time to think—only to move. They sprinted forward.

“M-Mayumi!!!”

“Wah!?”

From behind a pile of debris, the yellow bird suddenly swooped down and jabbed her in the stomach. Mayumi doubled over with a small grunt.

“Ugh…!”

“I’m so glad!! Really glad you’re okay…!! Those things were terrifying…!”

“…Tch. It’s fine, I’ve got this. Thanks, Asiri… you did well.”

Gently stroking the yellow bird, Mayumi noticed its wing—partly charred and damaged.

“Oh… this…”

“Y-yeah… sorry, it got scorched in the explosion…”

“Hmm. That’s fine. Just replace the part. Wait here a moment.”

Efficiently taking a toolkit from her bag, Mayumi put on her goggles and began working. As she looked up, her expression softened upon seeing a familiar face.

“…Hehe. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in person, Sensei. I’ve missed you.”

“Long time no see. I’m glad you’re all right.”

“You too… I’d love to catch up, but I’ll need your cooperation first.”

“…You’re the Sensei from the SCHALE”

Saori’s voice drew Sensei’s attention.

“I’m Saori Joumae of the Arius Squad.”

Her tone was firm at first—but quickly turned earnest.

“…Please…! I know it’s strange to ask something like this now, but there’s no time to explain. I’ll do anything I can!! So… please cooperate with us—to save Suou…!!”

“Leave it to me. Somehow, I think I understand the situation.”

“Yeah, I get that it’s hard to trust me, but—wait, huh?”

Saori’s desperate plea was met with an unexpectedly calm response.

“Oh? You didn’t know? That’s just the kind of person Sensei is.”

“…A personality that tends to get the short end of the stick. Just like him.”

“Ha ha…”

She gave a wry smile at the self-deprecating comment, then returned to a serious tone.

“I’ll explain briefly. Mika Misono and Suou Kirihana are fighting right now. That replicated Mimesis monster is guarding them… but I believe Sensei can get through. For Suou Kirihana—who’s controlling the Justina Council of Saints—Sensei is an essential presence. That’s why I want him to come with us.”

“Understood.”

“…About that battle…”

Atsuko, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.

“…It’s possible the fight’s already been decided.”

“…!? What do you mean!?”

“I think the reason the Justina Council members stopped moving earlier is because Suou—whose power stems from Royal Blood—took heavy damage and can no longer maintain control. I know because that’s a role I was meant to fulfill myself.”

At Atsuko’s words, Mayumi immediately opened her tablet. The data feed flickered, then displayed the results of the ongoing battle.

“Ghk… haah…!”

A metallic tang filled my mouth—like rusted iron. When I coughed, a thick spill of red escaped my lips.

“You’re… huff… starting to wear down, huh…?”

“Same goes for you…!”

At a glance, Mika’s wounds looked lighter than mine. But when it came to regeneration, I had the edge. Just a little more. One more push, and this fight would be decided.

“…”

No response from the Justina Council units I’d stationed near Sensei. They’d been taken out.

Someone must’ve realized Sensei was needed to access this place. Most likely Atsuko—she must’ve overheard my conversation with Maestro. And the rest of the squad… they probably went to retrieve him.

“Phew…”

In that case, it didn’t matter when I recovered the halo-destroying bomb from Mika. Either way, this would end soon.

“I’ll finish this with the next strike.”

“That’s something the one with the advantage usually says.”

“Then I guess I’m not wrong, huh?”

We both steadied our stances, breathing hard. Even without focusing, I could hear the fractured pillars and cracked walls creaking around us.

“Misono…!! Mikaaa!!”

Without a signal or plan, we both moved at the same instant—the final exchange began.

Mika acted first. She poured her mystic power into her machine gun and opened fire. Maybe she no longer had the energy to overcharge her shots, because they lacked their usual force.

“Gh—raaah!!”

Even so, I couldn’t block them all. Most rounds were deflected, but several still tore into me.

“There!”

Mika closed the distance to press her advantage—but I’d already predicted that. Before her figure even came into view, I launched a sweeping side kick.

“Too slow!”

“—!”

She caught my leg and threw me upward. The ceiling burst apart, the impact leaving a crater in reverse.

“…”

To an outsider, it might’ve looked like Mika was winning. Fine. That was part of the plan.

I still had another battle waiting—Beatrice. My body could heal easily enough, but exhaustion, ammunition, and explosives were a different matter.

“Haaaah!!”

“Gh…!”

Mika’s fist came crashing toward me, carrying a wave of debris. I caught the falling stones with strands of my hair, like ropes, and flung them back. Instead of dodging, I focused my mystic power on defense—letting her blow launch me intentionally.

“Urgh…!”

Dust and rubble filled the air. Cutting through it came Mika’s next strike—her fist, driving straight toward me.

“It’s over, Suou-chan.”

“…Aye… doo… ri…”

In answer, I met her attack head-on—with my left fist.

“!?”

Shock flashed across Mika’s face. Of course it did. She was stronger and more durable than me—if only slightly.

“But this one’s different…!”

This punch was special. I’d sacrificed my left arm entirely for it. Anything less wouldn’t have been worth the cost.

“Ghh—aaahhh!?”

Mika’s expression contorted in pain as my strike overpowered hers. My fist drove straight through—

“Eat… thisssss!!!”

—and sent her flying into the far ceiling.

“Gh—haa… ha ha ha… Damn it, that’s not the kind of move you test mid-battle…”

I hadn’t planned to use that technique until the fight with Beatrice. I could’ve saved it. But against Mika, there was no room for restraint.

“Haah… fuu…”

Pressing down on my throbbing arm, I walked toward her. Mika slumped against the wall, blood trailing from her chin—completely unable to fight.

“…Wha… did… you do…?”

“…”

Her voice was sluggish, like her mind was still catching up to the impact.

“I’ll tell you as a parting gift… kh—! Humans… have subconscious limits on their strength…”

As I searched her for the bomb, I answered her question.

“Mika, you’re no exception. You can’t strike with enough power to break your own bones. I just removed that limiter.”

It had been about three years since I learned to do it. A dangerous technique—devastating in the right hands, self-destructive in the wrong ones.

That’s why there had only been one moment I could use it—when Mika was exhausted, when she’d thrown her defense aside to go all-in on offense.

“—!”

“Your downfall was lack of discipline. You should’ve learned your own limits better.”

“That’s… not true…”

“…?”

A faint drip sounded—plip—something other than blood hitting the floor.

“Losing… isn’t what hurts.”

“…What?”

“Suppressing what keeps you alive… relying on something that only works if you’re willing to destroy yourself… that’s what’s sad. That’s… such a sad kind of technique. I could train for a hundred years… and still never come up with something like that…”

“…”

A sad technique, huh…? Quite the way to describe it.

“…I’m taking this, okay?”

“No…! No…! I won’t…! I absolutely… won’t let you…!”

Mika grabbed my arm—her grip weak, but desperate.

“…Let go. Do you want to get killed?”

I raised my gun. My hand didn’t waver.

“No matter how badly you act like a villain…!! No matter how tough you pretend to be…!! I know…!! Suou-chan…! You saved Seia-chan…!! You protected everyone…!! Even me…!!”

“I only did that to further my plan. Understand?”

“Lies…! Nothing but lies…! I absolutely, absolutely… won’t let go…!”

…Ah, those eyes. That expression—“whatever it takes.” Just like Anna’s, back then.

“Persistent, aren’t you.”

“—!”

I shot the back of Mika’s hand. Her fingers went limp, and she fell aside, as if giving me room to pass.

“!?”

But then, I felt a tug on my coat. I’d destroyed her right arm with the limiter-free strike, shot through the left. How… how was she still holding on?

“Haaah… ughhh…!!”

“…”

Mika was biting the sleeve of my coat—with everything she had left. She shouldn’t even have been able to stand.

Why… why go this far for me?

“Suou-chan…! You deserve to be happy…! You deserve to live…! That’s how it has to be…!”

“Mika…”

…Sorry. But that’s exactly what’s impossible.

“…Thank you, Mika. About everyone… take care of them, if you can.”

“—! Suou-chan!!”

I pressed the hand cannon to her forehead and pulled the trigger.

‘Nooo!!!’

A blue machine burst through the air and intercepted the shot.