Chapter 27: The Magic That Stops a Monster

“Mika, you…!”

In the gymnasium where we’d cornered the Arius students with the Supplementary Lessons Department, Sensei, directing the operation, glared at the girl before her with a mix of shock, anger, and tension.

Moments ago, after a fierce battle, Mika, Trinity’s true traitor, had revealed herself alongside Arius’s main force.

We’d swiftly countered by deploying our trump card, the Sisterhood, successfully encircling the area.

“Hmm, no wonder everyone turns to Schale. An adult’s power is such a hassle,” Mika said, her tone casual despite being surrounded by the Sisterhood’s overwhelming force.

She showed no sign of surrender.

“But with Seia-chan and Nagi-chan gone, I can’t just let this chance slip, can I?”

“Be careful, Sensei. She’s… strong,” Azusa warned, her face tense.

“…I know, Azusa,” Sensei replied, fully aware that the seemingly innocent angel before them was a formidable force capable of taking on the entire Sisterhood.

“Heh, looks like Hanako-chan’s out of tricks too?” Mika taunted, her yellow eyes glinting as she scanned the room.

“…Who knows,” Hanako responded cryptically.

“Ugh… what now…?” Hifumi mumbled.

“Where is she?! Hasumi-senpai’s still…” Koharu fretted.

As Mika’s gaze swept over them, the Supplementary Lessons Department members visibly shrank, unable to hide their anxiety.

Then—

Step.

“Huh…?”

“What…?”

A new set of footsteps echoed through the tense gymnasium, drawing everyone’s attention, including Sensei and Mika.

Elegant lavender hair pinned up with an ornate hairpin, enigmatic ashen eyes, a subtle smile on delicate lips, an antique pistol slung in a bag on her back, and a long sword radiating an even stronger presence.

“Kaoru…!” Sensei exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and confusion.

“Fufu… sorry for the delay, Master,” I replied, offering my usual bewitching smile as I stepped into the gymnasium.

“That girl…!”

Click!

Several Arius students, recognizing my distinctive appearance, hurriedly aimed their guns at me.

“Hahaha, don’t waste your bullets. Your puny attacks won’t even scratch her,” Mika said, laughing as she boldly stepped forward to stop them.

“Hey, outsider-chan. Long time no see,” she greeted.

“Fufu, hello, Mika,” I replied.

“Kaoru? It’s dangerous…” Sensei began, trying to intervene.

“Fufufu, it’ll be fine, Sensei,” Hanako interjected, her eyes gleaming with intrigue as she watched us.

“Kaoru-san must have a way to handle Mika-san… or brought something to do it.”

…I’m not feeling fine at all.

That was my true sentiment, overhearing Hanako’s words to Sensei from a distance.

Circumstances had forced me to stall, and now I was face-to-face with this pink-haired human weapon.

“Sakurako-sama, that’s…” Mari began.

“Wait, Mari,” Sakurako replied.

With the attention of the Supplementary Lessons Department, Arius, and the Sisterhood fixed on us, Mika and I stood in the center like warriors meeting for a duel on a battlefield.

“Fufu, you seem busy, Mika,” I said.

“Yup! In Nagi-chan’s words, I’m swamped with ‘important affairs,’” she replied cheerfully.

The conversation sounded mundane, but Mika’s glinting eyes and the careful distance she maintained told me she was ready to fight at any moment.

She’s keeping just enough distance to react if I move.

Despite her smile, her finger hovered near the trigger of her beloved firearm, a clear warning that she could blow me away the instant I acted.

“Where’ve you been? I was worried when I didn’t see you all day, outsider-chan!” she said.

“Oh my, thanks for the concern. I had other business,” I replied.

“Hmm, no need to be shy! Oh, and thanks for shutting up that idiot last time~☆,” she added.

“Kaoru… so that’s why you acted that way…” Sensei murmured, piecing it together.

…No, I really didn’t mean to shatter their bones.

Suppressing the urge to explain myself to Sensei, I pressed on to buy more time.

“Fufufu… Mika, just out of curiosity, but in gratitude for that day, won’t you stand down now?”

“Eh, outsider-chan, you came all this way just to say that?” Mika pouted, clearly unimpressed.

“I don’t know why you showed me kindness that day, but I’m the kind of problem child who’d kick that kindness right back! Even if you could stop me, we won’t know unless we try~”

Please, no thanks.

“Oh my, Mika. I don’t want to fight you here,” I said.

“Hahaha, so you’ll just watch me take out those kids over there? Maybe even Sensei might get hurt~,” she teased.

…This girl.

Her pointed mention of Sensei sparked a flicker of anger, but I kept my smile and countered her provocation.

“Fufu, instead, I’ll make you put down your weapon yourself.”

Because soon, you’ll be the one unable to act.

“Hahahaha! That’s hilarious!” Mika burst out laughing, as if I’d told a great joke.

But despite her exaggerated reaction, my words seemed to heighten her wariness.

Her laughter faded, and she fixed me with a cold stare.

“That’s impossible, outsider-chan. What, you gonna cast a spell on me?”

“A spell… fufu, that’s a nice way to put it. You could call it that,” I replied.

“Huh…?”

As the stalling reached its limit and Mika’s expression hardened, her gun twitching slightly—

Thud, thud, thud!

The sound of rapid footsteps announced the arrival of the “help” I’d been waiting for.

“Commence the assault!”

“Intruder forces identified!”

Through the breach the Sisterhood had made earlier, students in distinctive black uniforms—the Justice Task Force—poured in.

“All units, join the Sisterhood and surround the enemy,” commanded a voice.

“Hasumi…? Already…?” Sensei exclaimed, eyes wide, as the Supplementary Lessons Department members reacted with a mix of joy and surprise.

“Hasumi-senpai…!” Koharu gasped.

“The Justice Task Force is here…!” Hifumi added.

“But how did they get here so fast…?” Azusa wondered.

Mika, who had ensured the Justice Task Force would be sidelined, couldn’t believe her eyes, her face contorting as she muttered, “No way… the Justice Task Force ignored my Tea Party martial law?”

“…The martial law was lifted moments ago, Mika-san,” Hasumi replied coolly.

“What? What nonsense, Hasumi-chan. With Nagi-chan missing, her authority’s frozen. I’m the only Tea Party member here who can lift it. Are you saying you’re defying protocol and rebelling?” Mika snapped, her patience fraying as her plans unraveled, her voice dripping with menace.

“…No, they haven’t broken any rules,” came a low voice from within the Justice Task Force ranks.

“Eh…?”

Mika let out a strange sound, visibly shaken by the voice.

“…”

Emerging first was Mine, standing protectively with a large shield, her lips tightly sealed.

Her striking white angelic attire stood out among the Justice Task Force’s black uniforms.

Behind her, a small girl sat in a wheelchair, her face flushed with determination.

“I… gave the order under Tea Party authority,” she said, her voice faint but clear.

Despite her tiny frame, nearly hidden behind Mine’s shield, her distinctive fox ears were unmistakable.

“Long time… no see, Mika,” she said.

“Seia… chan…?” Mika stammered, her eyes blank as her brain struggled to process the sight.

As expected.

Step, step.

Confirming Mika was effectively neutralized, I slowly approached her.

The pink-haired girl, who moments ago was battle-ready, stood frozen like a statue, unable to act.

“…”

Reaching her side without resistance, I leaned in and whispered softly into her ear.

“Ta-da.”

That’s the magic.