Chapter 42: The Blade and the Ashes

Several days after the unprecedented terrorist attack on the Eden Treaty signing ceremony, late at night in Gehenna’s Prefect Team office, I had the chance to see Hina again for the first time since that day, thanks to Sensei’s visit to discuss the aftermath.

“Fufu, Hina, you look healthy. That’s a relief,” I said.

“…Thanks to you,” Hina replied curtly, sipping coffee in her pristine uniform, a stark contrast to the battered state I last saw her in.

It’s already late, and she’s brewing more coffee?

I thought, eyeing the stack of documents on her desk with quiet awe.

Sensei, sharing my concern, spoke up.

“Hina, I know the cleanup’s ongoing, but don’t overwork yourself. You pushed yourself the hardest that day.”

“It’s fine, Sensei. As Prefect Team leader, this is just routine,” Hina said, shaking her head as if it were nothing.

I’d heard Hina had rejoined Sensei at the scene right after recovering, leading the counterattack.

She’d been down about failing to fully protect Sensei, but unlike the original story, she didn’t need Sensei to visit her home to snap out of it—she’d pulled herself together on her own.

After that, it was a one-sided mop-up. With the Arius Squad gone, the remaining Justina Saints were easily subdued under Sensei’s command.

As I mentally noted how much smoother this resolved compared to the original story, Hina glanced at me and said, “I heard things got pretty intense at Trinity too.”

She was referring to the simultaneous coup attempt by Pater’s hardline faction.

“Oh my, you heard?” I replied.

“With a mess that big, word was bound to reach me,” she said.

The coup was quelled easily.

It was already crumbling when Sensei returned to Trinity, and after I… persuaded a few key troublemakers by embedding them in walls, the rest quieted down remarkably fast.

“Ha… Kaoru, you really went at it again…” Sensei had sighed upon seeing the students I’d neatly lined up after pulling them out of the walls.

I thought I restrained myself pretty well.

They’ve all been discharged now, haven’t they?

“I can’t speak much on the matter myself, but I wish Yurizono Seia a speedy recovery. Her defiance kept things from getting worse,” Hina added, her tone serious.

“Thank you, Hina,” Sensei replied, nodding with a bittersweet expression.

Seia, brutally attacked by Pater hardliners during the coup, was alive but in a coma, just like in the original story.

Mika, the former leader of those Pater members, was practically a shell of herself.

“…Mika,” Sensei called softly during a visit, but Mika only stared blankly at the wall, unresponsive.

Even I, standing beside Sensei, couldn’t find words for her desolate state.

In some ways, she’s more broken than in the original story, I thought.

If this pushes her to spiral worse than before, I might be the only one who can stop her now.

But even with my newfound combat skills, can I really handle that?

As I pondered this, Hina spoke up, her expression oddly mischievous.

“Oh, Kaoru. I saw that article.”

Article…? Oh no, not that…

“Oh my,” I muttered, eyes widening.

Hina, with a faint but unmistakable playful glint, continued, “‘Schale’s Blade,’ was it?”

Her cheeks flushed slightly as she averted her gaze, clearly a bit embarrassed to say it aloud.

“…” I suppressed the sudden urge to storm Chronos Academy and wreak havoc.

Those reporters… should I have let the Saints get them?

The trouble started when I rescued the Chronos News Club from the Saints while escorting Sensei and Hina out of the catacombs.

They’d dug up footage of me entering the cathedral as Sensei’s escort and spun it into sensational headlines: “Schale’s Blade, Sensei’s Last Resort!” and “Schale’s Secret Agent? Where Does She Really Come From?!”

Thankfully, Sensei’s authority got the articles pulled quickly, but if even Hina knew…

As I despaired over Kivotos’s terrifying rumor mill, Sensei offered a comforting smile.

“No need to be embarrassed, Kaoru. It just shows how big your role was.”

“Yeah, it makes me want to step up too,” Hina added, her faint smile betraying a hint of teasing.

She’s definitely mocking me, I thought, noting her rare smirk.

Sensei glanced at the clock and stood.

“Sorry, Hina, we need to go. I have a meeting with another student.”

Another meeting?

I thought, surprised.

I’d been half-acting as Sensei’s bodyguard lately and knew most of her schedule, but this was news to me.

“Alright, Sensei. It’s late, so be careful. Kaoru, keep her safe,” Hina said.

“Fufu, don’t worry,” I replied.

Then Hina added cryptically, “…I’m a bit jealous.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Sensei led me to a quiet alley on the border of Gehenna and Trinity’s districts, eerily empty even for the late hour.

A student meeting here? It must be…

“Kaoru, can I ask a favor?” Sensei said, her tone cautious.

“Of course, Master. What is it?” I asked.

“I’m meeting a student here, and no matter who it is, please don’t be too shocked,” she said.

“Fufu, understood,” I replied.

I already know who it is.

Step.

“You came, Sensei,” a voice said from behind us.

There she is.

As expected, the girl stepping out was Joumae Saori, leader of the Arius Squad.

She looked worn, marked by hardship since our last encounter, but it was unmistakably her.

“Hmm…” I narrowed my eyes playfully.

“W-Wait! I’m not here to fight…” Saori flinched, raising her hands to show she meant no harm.

“Fufu, I know. Just teasing,” I said.

“Sorry for not telling you, Kaoru,” Sensei said, looking apologetic.

“It was sudden, but Saori called me this evening, begging to meet. And… I wanted to hear her story too.”

“I can tell her reason for coming today is different,” I said, nodding.

Then, curious, I asked, “But Master, why tell me not to be shocked?”

“Well…” Sensei scratched her head awkwardly.

“Our last encounter with Saori wasn’t exactly pleasant, so I was worried you might knock her out on sight.”

“…”

What does she think I am?

I felt a tiny bit hurt.