Chapter 41: Do Not Point at the Sun
In a corridor of a faculty building in Trinity’s central district, a high-ranking Pater faction student, dressed in a pristine white Trinity uniform, sprinted breathlessly through the now-empty halls, deserted due to the recent terrorist attack and declared state of emergency.
Bang! Thud!
“Hah… hah…! Did I lose them…?” she gasped, diving into an open classroom and slamming the door shut.
Crouching in a corner, her face pale with fear, she panted heavily.
Damn it… damn it…! Despite her polished appearance, her mind churned with crude curses.
That weakling sitting as Tea Party representative was the problem to begin with…!
Collapsing from just a few bullets…!
she thought, spitefully blaming Seia, whom she and her faction had just brutalized.
Moments earlier, even when surrounded by dozens after her few remaining subordinates were subdued, Seia had defiantly refused to relinquish her Tea Party authority.
Unable to tolerate her resistance, the hardline Pater students, led by this girl, had unleashed violence.
Though not severe by Kivotos standards, it was devastating for the frail fox girl, resulting in critical injuries.
It was an impulsive, inexcusable act of one-sided brutality.
“You’re the ones who attacked Seia,” a chilling voice said.
“Eek…! Schale’s… Sensei? Weren’t you missing from the attack site…?” The Pater student froze, meeting the terrifying gaze of a young woman who had just arrived with another student.
“Kaoru, the situation outside is still bad. I’m heading back to the summit site to lead the counterattack. Can you handle these girls in the meantime?” Sensei asked, her voice low as she suppressed her anger.
“Of course, Master,” Kaoru replied with a nod.
“They don’t seem in any state to move, especially Mika, so I’m counting on you,” Sensei added.
Despite only being accompanied by Kaoru, armed with just a sword and an old pistol, Sensei seemed confident she could handle the dozens of faction members.
After memorizing their faces, she issued one final instruction before leaving.
“Kaoru, they’ll face proper judgment for what they did to Seia later. Don’t punish them personally beforehand.”
“Hmm… understood, Master,” Kaoru said, a hint of disappointment in her tone.
The Pater students were dumbfounded by Sensei’s restraint, but they soon understood why she’d imposed such a condition on Kaoru.
“Fufu, shall we begin?”
It didn’t take long for them to realize the extent of Kaoru’s power.
That monster…! What kind of strength…?! What do I do now?
The Pater officer shuddered, recalling how Kaoru had single-handedly wiped out dozens of her comrades in the blink of an eye after Sensei left.
BOOM!
“Eek?!” Before she could plan her next move, the classroom door exploded inward with a deafening crash.
“Here you are, fufu,” Kaoru said, stepping lightly through the now-nonexistent doorway, her gleaming sword in hand.
“Hii…?!” The officer stumbled back, terrified by Kaoru’s reaper-like presence.
“Hide-and-seek’s over, don’t you think? I’d like to catch up with Master soon—she might need my strength,” Kaoru said, her smile mocking, like a predator toying with prey.
“You…! Why’s an outsider meddling in Trinity’s affairs?!” the officer shouted desperately.
“Oh my, that stings. I’m enrolled here, you know? And I’m Seia’s friend,” Kaoru replied casually.
Then, as if remembering something, she tossed an object from her left hand toward the officer.
“Oh, here’s the weapon you dropped earlier. You shouldn’t litter.”
Whoosh—BOOM!
The rifle flew with an unnatural screech, embedding itself into the floor beside the officer with a thunderous crash, shattering the tiles.
“Gah?!” The sheer force sent the officer tumbling ungracefully across the room.
“Ugh… you monster… hii…?” Groaning in pain, she looked up, only to freeze in primal terror.
Step.
“Fufu, I just want to test something, so stay still, okay?” Kaoru was now inches away, raising her sword with a gentle smile.
“N-No way…” the officer stammered.
Swish.
“No! Please…!” she screamed, convinced the blade was aimed at her head.
SLASH!
“KYAAAA!” A blood-curdling shriek escaped her as she braced for death.
“…”
…Huh?
No pain came.
No severed head.
Trembling, she slowly opened her eyes, realizing she felt no pain beyond the strain of her own screaming.
“Hmm… as expected, it’s hard to swing at a person,” Kaoru murmured, staring at her sword’s hilt with a detached curiosity, as if examining someone else’s hand.
“A… ah…” the officer whimpered.
“Oh my, did I scare you? Don’t worry, I was only aiming for your hair, fufu,” Kaoru said, sheathing her sword with a smile.
Sheath.
“Truthfully, I thought about giving you a short haircut as punishment, but oh well,” she added, addressing the officer’s tear-and-snot-streaked face.
“P-Punishment…? Ah…!” The officer, still dazed, suddenly recalled something and pointed accusingly.
“You! Sensei told you not to punish us for what we did to Seia!”
“Fufu, you remember? Yes, Master said that, so I won’t punish you for harming Seia,” Kaoru replied.
“Then you can’t touch me!” the officer shouted, emboldened, forgetting her earlier humiliation.
Kaoru tilted her head, as if confused. “Hmm… but the punishment I’m giving you isn’t for that.”
“What…? Then why…?” The officer’s voice quivered as Kaoru leaned closer, her fear resurfacing.
“Fufu, when Master was leaving earlier, you all pointed your guns at me,” Kaoru said softly.
“But for a brief moment… your barrel was aimed at Master’s back.”
The officer froze, recalling the fleeting moment when, startled by Kaoru’s approach, she’d instinctively raised her weapon.
“What…?” she muttered, stunned by the absurd accusation.
Grab.
“Eek…?!” Before she could protest, Kaoru’s hand shot out, seizing her collar like a noose.
Leaning in close, Kaoru whispered, “If you dare aim a gun at Master, you deserve punishment.
While we’re at it, why not reflect on what you did to Seia too?”
“No… seriously, just for that…?” The officer’s eyes widened in disbelief and indignation.
“There’s no way that’s—gah?!” Her protest was cut short as Kaoru, with a hint of emotion, slammed her into the wall with a sickening crunch.