Chapter 93: Vanitas Vanitatum, et omnia Vanitas.

The light spilling out from the card grew stronger and stronger—warm and blinding. It seeped into my blood-drained, freezing body little by little. It was a gentle light.
The same light I’d seen that day, shining beyond the shutter.

"What… is this…!?"

Sensei’s body—and Beatrice’s too—were swallowed up by the radiance. I couldn’t see either of them anymore. I only heard voices of pain and gunfire echoing somewhere within.

A power that makes dreams reality, transcending even contradictions. A power that glows blue, that brings forth miracles. A power that consumes one’s life and time—its origin unknown.
His power. Sensei’s power. The power to protect his students.

"You’re…!"

"…"

It felt like my wounds were healing. That couldn’t be true, and yet the pain was fading. A sense of peace washed over me.
I squinted slightly—it felt as though someone had gently placed a hand over my eyelids beneath a sun-dappled sky, protecting me, sheltering me.

"Are you insane!? That power is draining your life and time! You’re making an unmistakable enemy of—"

"I couldn’t care less."

My strength was leaving me. Even standing upright felt impossible.
Ah… maybe by now, the Justina Council of Saints holding off Saori and the others has already been wiped out.

"Ugh—gah!"

"It’s over, Beatrice."

Before I knew it, the light had stopped. Darkness didn’t return—only a faint afterglow that seemed to melt into the world around us.

"You… you dare…! How dare you drive me this far!!"

Beatrice’s voice thundered with rage. I froze, trembling. Something welled up behind my eyes—but for some reason, I felt like it would be all right.

"It’s not over yet! Barbara’s still alive! The Justina Council of Saints! The teachers of Arius Academy too!!"

"…!"

"You think one victory is enough—"

"No, Madam. This is where it ends."

Why? Probably because Sensei was right there in front of me—and I could hear everyone running toward us.

"The Lock…! Saori!!!"

"I won’t let you."

Before Beatrice’s hand could reach Saori, Misaki fired her sidearm.

"You…!"

"It’s over."

Beatrice tried to counterattack, but Hiyori’s sniper shot hit her squarely, forcing her back. Azusa saw the opening and kicked her hard, sending her flying—right into Atsuko, who slammed her into the ground.

Everyone’s backs and legs were scorched. There was no way they could have crossed that distance so fast. They must’ve used the explosives to propel themselves. I’d told them not to try that…

"Hikari, Atsuko…! It all started with you…!!"

"…Beatrice. I am grateful—for letting me meet everyone."

Atsuko quietly aimed her gun at the crawling Beatrice.

"But… beyond that, I have nothing else to thank you for. …I’m sorry."

"Ga—ah!"

A single shot between the eyes. Beatrice’s body went still. Atsuko holstered her weapon, muttering, “That’s enough.”

"It’s not… over yet…"

I want to kill her. I want to kill Beatrice.
To avenge Cyan, Anna… everyone.

"It’s not over… not yet…"

"No, this story ends here."

A black shadow appeared—and in that same instant, Beatrice’s blood-soaked body vanished.

"…!"

"You—!"

I recognized that voice. From the gray-coated memories, clear as day.

"Golconde… you bastard!!"

"…Shall I skip introductions? You’re correct. I am Golconde, of Gematria… although perhaps, Sensei, we’ve met before. Or rather—"

A faceless gaze turned toward us. Its “head” was nothing but swirling black smoke.

"—I don’t believe we’ve ever met in person, Child of God."

"…!"

Gematria. The ones who interpret this world and seek transcendence.
Golconde. The failed human who created the “Halo-Breaking Bomb.”
The enemy. My heart screamed that word on its own.

"My apologies. I didn’t mean to startle you. Please understand—I haven’t come here to fight."

Something inside my skull snapped, blood pounding through broken veins.
This thing—this creature—is the reason Cyan and Anna are dead. The cause of all our suffering. It just wears a human shape. A monster. A demon.

"I’m only here to retrieve the Madam."

"Retrieve me…!?"

"I’d hardly stand a chance in combat anyway. Even Madam, who became a monster just now, has fallen. There’s no reason to believe I could fare any better."

His tone was cold, mechanical. Polite—almost gentlemanly.

"Yes, Madam. It’s clear now. Sensei isn’t your true opponent. This isn’t your story."

"…!"

"And the same applies to—"

That was it. My restraint finally broke.

"—you as well."

"Dammit…!"

"Suou!!"

I forced my body to move with another explosion—but my fist never reached Golconde. It passed right through him, as if he weren’t even there.

"Wait…! I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you all…!!"

"…Your fury is almost frightening. Sensei, please don’t take your eyes off her. After all this, if the story strays before her purpose is fulfilled… none of us will find peace."

"You don’t need to tell me that."

Dragged back—protected—by Saori and the others, I was pulled away.

"Saori… take them… to the others…"

"…"

She shook her head, eyes glistening, meeting mine with that pained expression.

"Please… no more. We don’t want to lose you too."

I didn’t want Saori to make that face. Realizing I had made her wear it… I understood.
Now wasn’t the time for vengeance. That much, at least, I understood.

"Hmm… my apologies. It seems I’ve spoiled the moment and offended you. In any case, Madam—your role amounts to little more than a MacGuffin at best. Or perhaps the antagonist in her story. Though it seems even that role has just reached its end."

Golconde’s voice made my blood boil. My hands tightened, and Misaki grabbed them.

"I’m not letting you go."

"…"

"Then, I’ll be taking Madam with me. Madam, wake up."

"Kh… you…!"

Beatrice. Golconde. They’re escaping. They’re getting away.

"Wait—!"

"Stop!!"

I have to kill them. I must kill them.

"I won’t let you escape…! You—you monsters…!! You killed them all…!! I’ll kill you, no matter what it takes!! Even if you’re at the ends of the earth—I’ll hunt you down and kill you!!!"

"…!"

"…You truly are terrifying. Are you going to stand in my way, then? Please don’t make that mistake."

The tone wasn’t fear—not exactly—but something close to it.
Polite, detached, almost courteous in its dread, as Golconde turned his gaze toward me.

"For example… I can create all kinds of tools. Including the very ‘Halo-Breaking Bomb’ you so despise—that too is one of my works."

"I already know that, you smug bastard… don’t you dare preach to me!!"

"…The new models proved ineffective, but the older ones—those used in the last civil conflict—functioned perfectly."

"…!"

What Golconde took out looked no different from an ordinary bomb—an old model, a “Halo-destroying bomb.”

If that thing were turned on everyone—if it actually happened—

"Hh... haah...! Haa...!"

"...My apologies. I didn’t mean to frighten you that much. It was only meant as a threat, nothing more. I’d say today’s experiment was partially successful. Madam, let’s go."

"..."

"Until we meet again, Sensei."

Golconde vanished.
Beatrice vanished.
And the Halo-destroying bomb disappeared along with them.

Finally, I could breathe properly again.

"…Beatrice."

I couldn’t get my revenge.
The bitterness still smoldered deep in my gut.
I wanted to kill her. It wasn’t about wanting to save everyone or anything noble like that.
There was a real, burning hatred inside me—an unmistakable desire for revenge.

"Suou…"

Saori called my name.
Was she going to scold me?
Tell me not to hold onto revenge?
I braced myself for it.

"I’ve said it before, but I don’t know your past. Still, no one here could’ve missed it after seeing that. The way you feel about those people."

"…"

"But don’t carry that burden alone."

"…What?"

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard.
Don’t shoulder your hatred alone—that’s what it sounded like.
But even in my battered state, there’s no way I misheard her from this distance.

"If you hate them that much, then we’ll help you. Together, we’ll beat the hell out of those bastards."

"That creepy one didn’t even have a face, though."

"So please… stop doing this. Stop hurting yourself. Don’t ever… ever make us feel the fear of losing you again."

"…I’m sorry."

Even now, my hatred for Beatrice and the others hasn’t vanished.
And that’s fine. It’s okay for it to stay.

But still… why?

"You’ve always been so selfish… stubborn, and headstrong…! You—You idiot!"

Being held like this by Saori and the others—
If it means seeing them with faces like that, I’d rather take this instead.

"…I’m just glad you’re safe. Don’t ever do something like that again…!!"

"…I won’t. Not anymore."

I’m selfish, reckless—but even I can understand this much.
I think I’ve changed.
I can’t even pursue revenge properly anymore, not if it means making everyone cry.

Because I want to live—together with them.
Because that’s what I wish for now.
I’ve gotten so weak.

"Seriously… even after all that, you still go and pull something that reckless? Unbelievable."

"Yeah…"

"Suou’s always been like this. Maybe it’s time you learned to take care of yourself for once."

"…Yeah."

My mind was spinning. My consciousness started to drift away.

"…Suou?"

"…Mm…"

"Eh—wait, hold on!? Is—Is she okay!? Her Halo’s fading…!!"

"What—!? Don’t you dare! You don’t get to die satisfied now! Live, Suou!! Open your eyes!! Live long enough to get revenge—or at least to be treated like a little sister!!"

"Hey…"

…So sleepy.

"She really just looks like she’s trying to fall asleep…"

"Yeah… goodnight…"

"…"

Sleepy.
Warm.
Like being wrapped in a soft, fluffy blanket.
Maybe it’s everyone’s hands I’m feeling. There must be six of them.

"…Honestly. We just told her not to make us worry, and this is what she does next. We’re in for a rough future."

"But there is a future. That’s enough for now."

"…Yeah. You’re right."

Before I came to this world—when I used to fall asleep feeling safe.
It’s like that.
A memory from a life I’d long forgotten.

There’s still so much to do.
The Justina Council of Saints must still be out there, and some of the teachers are surely alive.
Even so—

"Suou, leave the rest to us… For now, just rest."

"…"

I couldn’t fight against the pull of sleep—or the feeling of peace.

Finally… I could rest.

---

In his arms, Suou let out a faint “fuu…”—a small, steady breath as she drifted into sleep.
If someone saw her like this, they’d think she was just an ordinary child.
Swallowing that thought, he immediately began emergency treatment.

"Her pulse is weak… and her breathing’s rough. The bleeding’s stopped for now, but she’s lost a lot of blood."

"I can’t say she’s in good shape…"

Suou’s condition was dire. Even though she’d survived, she’d taken the blast from a Halo-destroying bomb twice, exhausted herself fighting Mika, and then battled Beatrice in that same shattered state.

Poison, explosions, blood loss—every part of her body had been ravaged.

"We need to get her to a proper facility as soon as possible. Sensei, can you help?"

"Of course. She asked me herself, after all."

It had been Suou’s own request—for help. He hadn’t needed to be told twice.

"…All right."

He slid both hands beneath Suou’s arms and legs, lifting her so that her head rested against his shoulder.
She was so light. The weakness she’d never once allowed anyone to see until now felt all too real.

"Let’s move. First, we regroup with the squad leaders."

"Understood."

Balancing his assault rifle in one hand, he hurried toward their position.
The sounds of battle grew louder.

Blue flames and flickering bullets filled the narrow path leading toward the Basilica.

"Uwaaaah!? S-Saou-chan!! Saou-chan!! Front line, switch!!"

"Quit yelling!! Can’t you hold out a little longer!?"

"Supplementary Lessons Department Unit! Go assist the others for now!"

"Y-Yes, ma’am!!"

Shouts and screams echoed through the area, but somehow, they were still holding the line.
Even so, their time was running out fast.

Ambrosius and even the Justina Council of Saints—they could handle them with enough firepower.
But Barbara… that was another matter entirely.

"Squad leaders! Supplementary Lessons Department! We’ve recovered the platoon leader!!"

There was no room for hesitation. Acting on instinct, Saori raised her voice to draw everyone’s attention.

"A-Azusa-chan! Sensei!"

"…I’m back, everyone."

"As expected of Sensei!"

"She’s alive, but Suou’s condition is bad!! This isn’t over yet!! We need to get out of here, now!!"

The platoon leader—the one who’d staked everything just to see her one last time—was here before them.
Relief swelled in their hearts, but as Saori said, it wasn’t over. Not yet. They forced those emotions down.

"Retreat!!! Leave them! They’ll fade on their own in a few days!! Ignore them!!!"

At Saori’s shout, everyone turned and sprinted back the way they came.
Behind them came the sounds of pursuit—Saints, Ambrosius, Barbara—all closing in. But no one dared to look back.

They just ran.

"Move it!! Move it!! That thing is seriously not funny!!"

"I-I know that already!! Aaaah, great, now I’m gonna have a criminal record…!?"

"Haha, in that case, come to Gehenna. It’s full of ex-cons over there!"

"Not the time, idiot!!"

Their mismatched voices—bright colors that didn’t belong on a battlefield—rang out as the trio came rushing toward them.

"Everyone!?"

"Huh? Wait—what!? Why are you guys running this way!?"

That unspoken question hung over everyone.
Mayumi’s group had been assigned to hold off Ambrosius and the Saints. That was their role.
So why were they here? No—what were they running from?

"What’s chasing you—"

"The worst! The absolute worst thing possible!!"

Wild gestures accompanied her words as she pointed sharply behind her.

"The Justice Realization Committee showed up!! And Tsurugi’s with them!!"

"What—!?"

"Ambrosius and the Saints are barely holding them off right now, but…!"

The Justice Realization Committee.
Even after being wiped out once by a ballistic missile strike, they’d managed to recover their structure in this short time—and make it all the way here.
They had likely come through the Old Cathedral, where Suou had been waiting.

Whatever the circumstances, the Arius Branch was still seen as dangerous by them.
If they were captured here, it would all be over.
And most of all—Suou didn’t have much time left.

"What do we do…!?"

Tsurugi ahead. Barbara behind.
Faced with an impossible choice, Saori ground her teeth in frustration.

"We go back! We might be able to handle Barbara!"

"…Right!"

Sensei’s voice snapped them out of their panic.
He was right—Barbara, at least, was preferable to Tsurugi. If they concentrated their power, they might be able to erase her temporarily.

And unlike the others, Sensei could use his Adult Card—something never to be turned against students—on an opponent like Barbara.
No one else knew that, of course.

They turned back toward Barbara and her forces.
Maybe because they’d fled before, she—though lacking any will of her own—seemed visibly irritated.

"Saori! Saori! Rei! Yosei!! Take Barbara!! We’ll focus on Ambrosius! Don’t worry about the Saints!"

"Got it! Sensei, take care of Suou!"

The four of them rushed to face Barbara while the rest engaged the four remaining Ambrosius units.
Following Beatrice’s last command before her disappearance, the Ambrosius unleashed blue flames like massive bullets.

"Hey—Asiri!!?"

"Uwah, whoa!?"

Mayumi kicked Asiri aside just in time to save her from being hit.

"What’s wrong with you lately!?"

Ever since they’d tried to escape the Justice Realization Committee—or maybe even earlier, since they’d first arrived here—Asiri had been acting strange.
Restless. Distracted. As if searching for something.

"Asiri, Mayumi, you two okay!? I’m going Overdrive on Barbara, so cover me right after!"

"Well, there’s no other choice right now… Asiri. Can you handle it?"

"…"

She couldn’t answer.
She couldn’t even lift her head.
Her body was battered and torn—but that wasn’t the reason.

"Mayumi-chan… Suou-chan was… my ‘savior,’ wasn’t she…?"

"…Yes. She was."

Suou had been her savior—the one who saved her that day.
One of the Anti-Vengeance faction.

───…Your sister. She’s still fighting. Risking her life.

She had known. She’d known her sister was still out there.
And yet, even knowing that, she had still asked Suou—hoping for a miracle—whether she knew where her sister was.
The answer she’d received had been an undeniable no.

"…My sister… isn’t here anymore…"

She’d thought she was ready.
She’d told herself she was prepared for the truth.
But all she’d really done was cling to the faintest trace of hope.
It was the only way she could keep believing at all.

"My sister… is dead…"

Even so, reality struck her. Asiri wasn’t strong to begin with. Her mind—the easiest thing to break—finally reached its limit.

Telling herself it was for Suou’s sake, for everyone’s sake—she’d kept up the pretense. But now, she’d reached the very edge.

"I’m glad Suou-chan survived... but my most precious person... is already... gone!"

"Asiri…"

Mayumi couldn’t find any words. Just like back when she had quarreled with Asiri long ago.

Even now, she couldn’t fully grasp others’ feelings. She couldn’t even tell herself she understood.
Watching Asiri quietly sob in front of her, she couldn’t find a single word of comfort.

"...I see. Then it’s fine, Asiri."

It was Sayuri who broke the silence.

"Mayumi, let’s go. I was going to handle the hero backup myself anyway. You’re just in the way, so stay here and rest."

"Sayuri, you…"

"Sorry, but there’s no time for that now."

She spoke coldly, then turned and began walking.

"I’m nothing like the two of you. I’m not a good person, nor am I kind."

Her tone hinted at irritation, and her pace gradually increased.

"...But I think I understand at least what’s important."

She stopped for a moment, then said softly:

"...Asiri. Is that really what you want to do, right now?"

She let the words fall gently before running off toward Barbara.

"..."

Asiri didn’t know what she truly wanted to do. Her sister had died. She knew it. Her benefactor could probably manage to save Suou without her interference.

If that was the case, she didn’t have to do anything anymore. Her sister wasn’t here—anywhere in this world. Deep in Asiri’s heart, someone whispered that truth.

"...Asiri. I want you to know…"

Mayumi began speaking, almost irresistibly pulling Asiri’s attention toward her voice.

"...Even if my benefactor—Suou-san—lives or dies, I will live in a way that doesn’t shame them."

"..."

So, what did that mean? She couldn’t be that strong.

She couldn’t be gentle like Hifumi, wise like Hanako, brave like Koharu, or strong like Azusa.

"Because I have… you, Asiri. Sayuri. And everyone in the club."

"…Huh?"

"I still don’t fully understand your feelings. But I…"

Through her mask, Mayumi’s eyes looked firmly into Asiri’s, unflinching. Those blue eyes, unwavering.

"...I will fight. So that no one around me has to suffer like this anymore. I’ll fight selfishly."

"…!"

"...I’m sorry. This is all I can say, from weak me… I’ll go support Sayuri. When you’re able to move, come find me."

Ah, why.

"Everyone is… so strong…"

Why am I so weak? That thought consumed Asiri’s mind.

Everyone here carried something with them. And yet they fought—for themselves, for their precious ones, for someone else besides themselves.

Asiri was different. Her sister was dead. Something precious was gone. That alone froze her heart and kept her from moving. Just like that day, trembling in fear.

She hated her weak self. Her weak self, always so weak. That day, unable to protect her sister. She could only be protected.

"...Ah."

The strap fell from the side of her belt—the slightly ugly, fluorescent alpaca her sister had picked up.

"...Right. Sister."

Pull yourself together. That’s what she felt encouraged to do. She remembered.

Her sister in her memories… was never truly strong. By combat ability alone, she could probably have matched Asiri herself.

Yet, her sister had protected her.

And not just her sister—Hifumi, Hanako, Koharu, Azusa, Mayumi, Sayuri, Suou, and all the club members. Strong or weak, it didn’t matter. They simply had the will to protect someone.

That resolve alone had made them strong.

‘ACCEL…!!’

"I… am…"

She slammed the belt buckle. The whir of its mechanisms echoed. Her determination surged through her body, radiating outward.

‘ACCEL…!!!!’

"I… will…!"

The second time. The moment she slammed it, she sprinted toward the "enemy," toward Barbara.

"Ugh, this is getting bad…!"

The squad leaders—including Saori, Sayuri, and Mayumi—were on the verge of being overwhelmed. But Barbara, too, was severely wounded. One more strike, one heavy hit, and her disappearance wouldn’t be far off.

"...!"

"Damn it, dodge—"

‘ACCEEEEEEEEL!!!!’

Seeing that, Asiri went for the third time. She struck the buckle with all her might, now fully charged with the largest glow yet, and leapt to Barbara’s eye level.

"I… I will become Suou-chan’s, everyone’s big sister!! Just like my sister, like Suou-chan, like everyone has done for me!! Now it’s my turn to protect everyone!!"

‘O-O-O-OVER DRIVE!!!’

"I’m gonna… blast you all away!!"

‘ARE YOU READY!?’

"I’m ready!!"

Energy surged. By applying extreme pressure to release several times her normal strength, she slammed her blackened fist into Barbara with an outrageous line, sending her flying.

‘HIGH-PLASMA…!! FINISH!!!’

"Ughhgaaaahhh!!"

Even as she groaned from the intense feedback, she swung her fist through, collapsing onto the ground as if falling.

‘COOL DOWN…’

"Hey Asiri!? Don’t overdo it—"

"Sayuri-chan… Mayumi-chan… we’re fighting…!"

"…!"

Steam rose from her entire body as she expelled excess heat, her exhausted breath carrying a strong resolve.

"This time, it’s me, it’s us…! We’ll protect Suou-chan…!!"

"Of course!! That’s been our plan from the start!"

"Ahaha, amazing, Asiri! If you had stayed crouching like that, I’d have had to smack you myself!"

Seeing her, Saori felt both relief and confusion, preparing to announce Barbara’s disappearance.

"…! This is bad!! Run!!"

Barbara rose, flames wavering around her. She shouted, trying to prevent Asiri and the others from escaping.

"…!"

A gunshot rang out. Not from Barbara, not from the squad—an unfamiliar shotgun blast.

"Whoa… things are getting intense here. I guess I better step up too."

Barbara collapsed again, scattering into dust. From behind her, several figures emerged. Recognizable silhouettes.

"…Hmm. The backup has arrived."

"They were a bit suspicious, but they’re real after all."

"Ev- Everyone! You came!!"

The five masked members of the swimsuit gang—or rather, the Countermeasures Committee—led by Hifumi, and then…

"But why are you here…?"

"Because we promised."

"…! You are…!"

"…We won’t give up on you either!"

Seia Yurizono, being carried by Mine Aomori.