Chapter 55: To Rescue Sensei

After driving through the D.U. District for a while, just as they were about to cross into Trinity territory, Maiha suddenly noticed something.

"Ah—Aika-chan…!?"

"What’s wrong?"

"Aika-chan isn’t in the truck bed."

Hearing Maiha’s anxious voice, I looked behind us as well—but just as she said, there was no sign of Aika.

"We have to go look for her. We can’t just leave her alone."

Maiha nodded. They were close enough to the Trinity autonomous zone that the Tea Party escort would reach it soon anyway, and with Mika around, even if an attack happened, she could handle it. After stopping at a traffic light at an intersection, they let the Silver Cloud continue straight ahead while they turned right, heading back toward the center of the D.U. District.

After retracing their path for about ten minutes, in the dimming streets as the sun began to set, they spotted a girl who stood out clearly: white clothing, large wings, and long red hair.

"Aika!"

"Royalty…? Both of you…!?"

They made it in time. Stopping the truck, they hurried over to her.

"You can’t do that! Don’t just jump off on your own…!"

"I am… truly sorry. But I couldn’t allow the two of you to be dragged into what lies ahead…"

She apologized obediently enough to Maiha’s stern expression, but when she tried to continue with an excuse, Maiha cut her off.

"What were you planning to do? Once we know that, we’ll decide what to do of our own free will."

"During the meeting earlier, I heard Sensei had disappeared. And on our way back to Trinity, I saw Kaiser’s forces moving… and I had a terrible feeling. So I thought to go to SCHALE first and find out what had happened…"

Hearing that, the other two gave their replies.

"Oh, so that’s all? If you had told us, we would’ve helped."

"Agreed. I also felt uneasy hearing Sensei had vanished. Something may have happened to him—quite possibly."

The three of them exchanged looks, confirming what they needed to do next. Once again reunited, the officer cadets began their mission: investigating what had happened to Sensei.

"Ah—over there…!"

As they continued toward SCHALE for several more minutes, Maiha spotted a lone student engaged in combat with Kaiser PMC forces.

"Kaiser… surrounding a single person like that… how disgraceful."

"Aika, this hatred you have for Kaiser—where exactly does it come from?"

Aika spun the crank of her pom-pom cannon, unleashing a barrage without hesitation. In moments, every enemy soldier was incapacitated. They got out of the truck and headed toward the student Kaiser had been attacking.

"Thanks for the assist… that uniform—Trinity?"

"Yes. We are members of Trinity’s Tea Party Escort Unit."

The girl she addressed was from the Valkyrie Police School—specifically, the director of its Public Safety Bureau… the “Mad Dog,” Ogata Kanna.

"Forgive the sudden question, but why is a Trinity student here…?"

Aika began explaining the situation step by step: that they had attended today’s Emergency Countermeasure Committee formation meeting as Tea Party escorts; that they learned Sensei had gone missing; that, on their way back to Trinity, they saw Kaiser troops moving in force and sensed something was wrong; and that they were heading to SCHALE to investigate what was happening.

"I see… Whether you believe what I’m about to say is up to you. You have no obligation to follow it."

Next, Kanna explained what she knew. About an hour earlier, Kaiser PMC had attacked the Federal Student Council, dissolved the Administrative Committee, and seized control of Sanctum Tower. Kaiser then declared martial law over the D.U. District—logistics, transportation, and communication were all cut off. The district was effectively sealed.

She also used her authority to access confidential Valkyrie Police School files… and learned that Sensei had been captured by Kaiser and imprisoned underground in Valkyrie Police School’s Third Branch.

"I was on my way there to free him when Kaiser caught me—that was what you saw. At this point, I’m basically betraying my own organization."

The officer cadets exchanged looks, then quietly nodded.

"We would like to assist you, Director Ogata."

With Aika’s words, the other two nodded as well.

"…Very well. But I was the one who asked you for help simply because you happened to be here. I’ll take responsibility for everything."

As Kanna began walking, Aika called out to her.

"This is a race against time. Please ride with us."

"…Yes. That would be best."

Kanna hopped into the truck bed, and together they sped toward Valkyrie Police School’s Third Branch.

On the way, they blasted through approaching Kaiser PMC squads with a steady stream of 40mm two-pound anti-air rounds, sweeping them aside effortlessly. Before long, they arrived safely at their destination.

"…From here on, I'll take care of it. You three hold off Kaiser’s reinforcements outside."

"Yes, understood."

The building was part of a police school facility, and its interior layout was extremely complex. There was no way for the truck to enter. So they stationed themselves at the entrance of the Third Branch and continued intercepting any enemies that approached.

Several minutes later, Kanna finally emerged from the building—looking badly battered—and with her was Sensei from SCHALE.

"Sensei…! You’re safe after all."

"Cadets… all of you…"

Aika spoke to him with visible relief. Then they helped both Sensei and the injured Kanna into the driver’s seat area and turned toward the escape route out of the D.U. District.

"They’re here—fire!"

"What—!?"

A sudden ambush from Kaiser caught them off guard, delaying their response. However, the reinforcements Kanna had arranged beforehand arrived just in time, preventing disaster.

"Sensei! Are you alright!?"

"Ugh… this is unlike me. How did it end up like this…"

"Public Safety Bureau—you came!"

It was two members of the Valkyrie Police School’s Public Safety Bureau: Nakatsukasa Kirino and Negaki Fubuki.

"Hahh… looks like we barely made it."

"Did you see that!? My flawless, absolutely perfect marksmanship—Director Ogata, what happened to you!?"

"Yikes, that looks painful. Are you okay?"

Seeing Kanna in the driver’s seat, cradling her injured arm, both girls wore worried expressions.

"This is nothing. Don’t fuss over it…"

"Also, what’s with this truck? I don’t remember Valkyrie having anything like it in our equipment list…"

"Haa… haa… I suppose I do owe you both an explanation."

She couldn't order her subordinates to abandon regulations and follow her. While acting alone to rescue Sensei, she encountered Trinity students who shared the same objective and decided to join forces with them. And this truck was their property.

She then explained the situation to Sensei once more: the Kaiser PMC assault, the takeover of Sanctum Tower, and the complete seizure of the D.U. District.

"…Ah. I nearly forgot. Sensei, here."

Kanna handed him both a tablet and a smartphone—devices Kaiser Corporation had seized. They had attempted to access them but couldn’t operate them at all: OOPArts that only Sensei could use.

"“The System’s Box… How did you get these?”"

"I gathered classified information from inside Valkyrie. Kaiser Group believes I’m a corrupt officer tied to corporate factions, so they didn’t suspect me. I managed to retrieve them before they noticed…"

Then Kanna took a deep breath and continued.

"…At this rate, the city will fall into chaos like never before. Accepting that reality, and doing whatever little a corrupt police officer like me can—this was the greatest resistance I could offer. If it weren’t for your teachings back then… I would’ve frozen again, unable to take even a single step."

"“…Kanna. You’re an admirable police officer. You followed your convictions and acted without giving up.”"

Hearing those words, she looked down, momentarily lost in thought. Sensei continued.

"“Besides, with this, we’ll be fine. I think we can manage.”"

"Hm? Is that something important?"

"“…We desire the Seven Laments… We remember the ancient rules of Jericho.”"

As Sensei murmured the cryptic phrase, the tablet powered on, its display glowing to life.

"“…Then, shall we begin command once more?”"

"Wait, wait! I know Sensei’s command ability is incredible, but… with our current numbers, we’re hopelessly outmatched…"

Before Negaki Fubuki could finish, her words were drowned out by approaching shouting.

"This way! Got them!"

"…They’ve arrived."

"W-We’ll engage!"

From the driver’s seat, Sensei issued rapid and precise commands. Even units from entirely different organizations—the Valkyrie Public Safety Bureau and the Trinity Tea Party Escort cadets—moved as a unified force under his direction, taking down enemies one by one.

"…Looks like we managed it."

"We did, but from here on, we’re hopelessly outnumbered. No support, no supplies… We need reinforcements."

But communications within the D.U. District were cut off, making contact nearly impossible. Aika and the others’ smartphones had no signal, leaving them unable to reach anyone.

"Over here!"

After multiple engagements along the route, the cadets—who weren’t originally trained for direct combat—were running dangerously low on ammunition. The three Valkyrie officers still had a few rounds left, but supplies were dwindling fast. The situation was far from favorable.

Standing before them were Kaiser PMC soldiers.

"Such numbers…"

"So, this is it…"

"Surrender immediately. If you refuse, we will fire indiscriminately."

As the group felt cornered, the whir of a drone rotor suddenly filled the air. The drone strafed the Kaiser forces, and moments later—accompanied by a blast—students descended from a helicopter.

"Yaaaahhh!!"

The soldiers caught in the surprise drop were blasted back and incapacitated. Landing nearby were—

"RABBIT2, on site!"

"RABBIT1 has secured Sensei and the VIPs. RABBIT3, confirm enemy positions."

"“RABBIT Squad… they came!”"

These were the reinforcements Sensei had managed to call during a brief opening moments earlier: the RABBIT Squad, formerly part of the now-defunct SRT Special Academy. Though only first-year students, they were exceptionally trained and heavily equipped—a perfect support force in this situation.

"Don’t get the wrong idea. We didn’t come because Sensei requested help."

〈Yeah, we just happened to respond to a rescue request while getting in some exercise after lunch.〉

〈Though everyone did seem to rush a bit…〉

"…RABBIT Squad confirms Sensei’s rescue request and has arrived on-site."

Hearing this, Aika leaned out of the truck bed.

"With the SRT Special Academy here, we can rest assured. We’ve confirmed Sensei’s safety, and our ammunition is nearly depleted, so we’ll return to Trinity for now…"

They helped Sensei and the still-injured—but recovering—Kanna out of the truck, then sped toward Trinity at nearly illegal speeds.

"…Was it really okay to let them go just like that?"

"“Yes. The connection point to Trinity should be nearby. Let’s move as well.”"

At Sensei’s words, Valkyrie, SRT, and Kivotos law-enforcement units pressed forward together.