Chapter 54: Foreclosure Task Force

Nagisa summoned me along with the other two officer cadets. The location was the usual balcony, and the only explanation we received was that it was an important matter. Wondering what it could be, I went over—only to find not just Nagisa but Seia there as well.

"Thank you all for gathering. To begin, early this morning, we received a notice from the General Student Council."

"They’re apparently forming a Foreclosure Task Force—an ad hoc organization. I’d heard that Sensei passed on the details of my prophetic dream, but still…"

A Foreclosure Task Force. In other words, the final arc was finally beginning in earnest.

"Yes. However… I doubt the usually heavy-footed General Student Council would move based on that alone. They must have detected some abnormal phenomenon on their end as well."

"The situation surrounding the General Student Council is far from favorable. The council president is still missing, and her absence has triggered a series of incidents across every region of Kivotos. We need to discuss the situation—and Sensei’s involvement."

The Eden Treaty—something we at Trinity are directly tied to—was originally drafted by the General Student Council president. Well, her disappearance midway through is what made everything start spiraling in the first place.

"…Yeah. As long as Sensei is with us, we’ll manage somehow."

When Seia said that, Nagisa continued, though her expression carried a hint of unease.

"However, the task force list includes the Pandemonium Society of Gehenna, Millennium’s Big Sister, representatives from Red Winter Federal Academy, the Black Sovereign of Shanghaijing—leaders from every academy. Though most likely won’t attend."

Well, the council doesn’t have any real pull without its president.

"Even assuming those members do attend and gather in one place, it’s doubtful a proper discussion could even take place. It’d be a miracle if a war doesn’t break out…"

"Ah! Nagisa-chan, Seia-chan, and all you officer cadets! What are you doing gathered out here?"

A girl—now just an ordinary student—stepped into the group.

"M-Mika-san…!? Why only now…? We sent the meeting notice earlier, did we not?"

"Eeh? Well, the reception in that dorm is terrible, you know? Anyway—what’s this? Foreclosure Task Force? A summons from the General Student Council, and the entire Tea Party has to attend… Huh, even that Pandemonium Society from Gehenna is coming?"

Looking over the participant list, Mika asked in a tone dripping with implication. She really does hate Gehenna.

"Mika-san… please…"

With nervous sweat on her brow, Nagisa shot Mika a look silently begging her not to start trouble.

"Sensei’s coming too, right? I’m not gonna start anything, okay? Really."

"I-if you say so… I’ll take your word for it. And as for you officer cadets—you probably already understand by now, but…"

"Yes, we’re to provide escort to the conference hall, correct?"

Considering the kind of assignments officer cadets have received up to now, arriving at that conclusion was easy.

"Correct. We’ll be departing for the D.U. District shortly, so please prepare."

"Understood."

And with that, after finishing preparations, we dispatched the Royalty. We followed behind the Silver Cloud carrying the three Tea Party members and their student driver as we headed toward Sanctum Tower.

We arrived at the General Student Council’s conference room. As Trinity’s security detail, we officer cadets stood behind Nagisa’s faction leaders, along with Sakurako and Mine, who had joined us from a different route. And on the opposite side…

"Hmph. So Sensei isn’t here? What a complete waste of time."

"Makoto-senpai, your voice is too loud… Look, those people over there are giving us very suspicious looks."

"Ki-ki-ki! Who cares what the Trinity lot thinks? Such things are beneath the great Makoto!"

The Pandemonium Society—Gehenna’s official representatives—were present. As for the Discipline Committee… if I remembered correctly, Makoto had blocked information distribution so thoroughly that they never actually received the notice.

"…Well then, everyone, I will now explain the purpose for which you’ve all gathered here today."

Mika twisted her expression in open displeasure. It seemed they had intended to wait for Sensei to arrive, but before the atmosphere could sour any further, Rin chose to begin the briefing. She proceeded with the explanation regarding the establishment of the Foreclosure Task Force.

"—We’ve detected extremely high-density energy reactions at several locations: the Abydos desert, the abandoned amusement park near the D.U. District, the restricted zone on Millennium’s outskirts, the border between Trinity and Gehenna, the new city near Millennium… and finally, right here at Sanctum Tower."

When you really think about it, holding a meeting surrounded by massive energy signatures is terrifying, isn’t it? Not that there’s anything we can do about it now.

"Though these reactions have been observed across all of Kivotos, there have been no visible anomalies at the sites themselves… However, there must be some underlying cause behind this phenomenon. To uncover it, we will need the cooperation of every academy. We ask for your understanding."

"Before that, may I ask something?"

Rin had gotten that far when Sakurako raised her hand.

"Where is Sensei? I was told SCHALE would also be participating in this Foreclosure Task Force."

"Th-that is…"

"We have an urgent matter that must be discussed with SCHALE… a matter of some importance."

Sisterhood had recently gone to investigate the Arius District, which had become all but abandoned—maybe it was related to that? As I wondered, Mine turned to Sakurako.

"What kind of matter is it, Sakurako-san?"

"That is… something I cannot discuss openly here…"

"So Sisterhood still intends to hide things from us!"

Ahh, here we go. Even from behind, I could see Nagisa holding her head in despair. Seia immediately stepped in, forcing her way between them to stop the confrontation.

"…I also have something I need to tell Sensei. Something closely tied to this situation."

And then, this time, Mika—who had been staring around the room in boredom—opened her mouth.

"Hey, is that kid okay? She’s asleep. Even though Seia-chan is talking."

Her gaze was fixed on the chair of the Pandemonium Society, who was loudly snoring. Honestly, this is probably why they have even less authority than the Discipline Committee…

"Makoto-senpai, wake up. You’re drawing attention—and not in a good way."

"Ki-ki-ki! I was not asleep. I merely found this dull buzzing noise less soothing than a lullaby."

"Eeh~? When is this going to end? Ibuki hasn’t eaten breakfast and she’s starving…"

And just as Mika stood up—clearly about to act—Maasa stepped in to stop her.

"Please don’t, Mika-sama."

"Ahaha☆ I was just trying to pull out her chair, that’s all."

…The atmosphere is absolutely awful. I want to go home. Even Maiha has started eating candy she pulled out of her pocket.

"…In the end, where is Sensei?"

"The General Student Council is surely hiding him somewhere for their schemes. Asking them is pointless!"

No, you’re the only one who would actually do something like that.

"To think you can’t even see through such a simple ploy and still claim to sit at the top of an academy—what a joke. Ki-ki-ki!"

"Aah, see? Senpai keeps saying unnecessary things and making everything even more complicated…"

Just as things were steadily derailing, Rin raised her voice sharply to regain order.

"Everyone, please remain calm. We are in the middle of searching for Sensei’s whereabouts."

"You’re searching for him… does that mean Sensei has gone missing?"

Mine asked Rin, but Makoto cut in before she could answer.

"If it were SCHALE, I might consider talking. But the General Student Council? No. This discussion is meaningless. We’re leaving!"

"Eh—wait, please…!"

And just like that, the Pandemonium Society actually walked out. Seeing this, the Trinity side…

"There certainly are many suspicious points in this situation."

"Indeed. Perhaps we should return and analyze the current circumstances ourselves."

"…It doesn’t look like we can cooperate under conditions like these."

In the end, Trinity also chose to withdraw, and I followed after the various faction leaders as they all trickled out of the room.

"Where did Sensei go?"

"We intend to gather all related information after returning to Trinity, including that matter, Mika-san."

Descending from Sanctum Tower, the three members of the Tea Party boarded their waiting Silver Cloud. We joined them as escort, riding behind in the Royalty.

After driving for a while, a familiar camouflaged formation came into view…

(Kaiser… ah.)

I remembered—this situation unfolding right now, the details I knew from my previous life. How had I overlooked it until now?

(Sensei has been abducted. I need to save him.)

With that, I grabbed my Brown Bess rifle, jumped off the truck, landed on the sidewalk, and headed straight for the Valkyrie building where Sensei was supposed to be.