Chapter 43: At The End Of The End (2)

‘…I thought there would be no vigilance here, and I was right.’

“Hmm~ Does it feel like a… hideout?”

As soon as we arrived at the Arius District, we followed the squad into a shelter to gather information about the surrounding terrain.

The equipment, abandoned long ago, seemed beyond salvage, though it must have been quite useful once. Was this a warehouse or a training ground?

“The real district is a little further from here. But since she knows we’re coming, we can’t approach carelessly.”

“This used to be a training ground…”

“Hmm… indeed… now that you mention it, it does look more like a training ground than a warehouse…”

“…So they lived in a place like this… hmm… it’s a bit sad…”

Judging by the building’s style, it was probably a historic site or a simple old building before being used as a training ground. I was thinking of such things.

After that, starting with the teacher’s remarks, some of the stories they had experienced were told. The story was definitely… not something that children of their age should experience.

No, it was in the past, so they must have been younger back then…

“Uh…?! Huh?!”

As the story became more intense, I gently covered Mika-senpai’s ears. Senpai seemed a little flustered and froze, but I didn’t let go.

This story is a bit too stimulating for Senpai. Even if she already knows everything, it’s a strong story. And above all… this story might be a bit too harsh for Senpai.

The squad and the teacher didn’t say anything, as if they knew it wasn’t a pleasant story to hear, and when the story ended, I took my hands off Senpai’s ears.

Immediately, Senpai puffed up her cheeks and started to complain. Certainly, in this aspect, she is the purest person…

“Why are you stopping me from listening…!”

“It’s still too early for Senpai to hear this.”

“Sora-chan, you’re younger than me!”

“I’m… okay.”

[Hahaha…]

To lighten the dark mood a bit, we had a short, casual chat. It’s a place and situation that requires seriousness… but being gloomy isn’t good.

As I explained earlier, we needed to be serious, so just as we were about to get down to business…

[Saori?!]

Saori-san collapsed. Certainly, compared to before, her movements had become significantly sluggish, so I could guess that her condition wasn’t good, but to the point of collapsing?!

“?!”

“Wait… ugh… She has a terrible fever…! Has she been enduring it until now…?!”

“…The leader hasn’t rested for nearly four days. Injury, lack of sleep, and fatigue, all of it must be hitting her now.”

Four days? Did she just say four days? A person endured four days without sleep?… It’s really absurd, but it’s not the time to be surprised.

Her breathing is heavy, and her fever is severe, making me want to rush her to the Knights Hospitaller, but… that’s not possible, is it? I need to do what I can first.

First, I remove her mask so she can breathe easier. I don’t know what kind of mask it is, but she was still wearing it even though it was already broken.

“Teacher?”

[Use this, it’s an antipyretic.]

The teacher handed me a fever reducer from his pocket. I was a little surprised that he carried such things around, but as I said before, it’s not the time to be surprised.

It’s fortunate that she’s still conscious even though she collapsed. Thanks to that, it was easy to give her the medicine.

Shortly after taking the medicine, she seemed a little better, but she was definitely not in a condition to continue moving, so we decided to take a break.

As for the night watch… I was already used to staying up all night for guard duty, so I decided to take the whole day.

It’s usually not a good choice, but I’ve recently learned that staying up all night for a day doesn’t affect me much.

It’s better for me to stand guard than the squad, who are in poor condition. Thus, a short rest began.

“…Sigh… the more I look, the sadder it gets…”

In the still-dark dawn, although it was called a hideout, it was located in a relatively high place, so the surrounding scenery was visible.

It’s still dark, but it was possible because the moon was bright today.

“…Ugh… Sora-chan…? Aren’t you getting tired…? Should we… switch?”

“Ah, Mika-senpai? I’m still fine.”

Turning around at the familiar voice, I saw Mika-senpai slowly coming out of the hideout. Her slightly messy hair suggests she got some sleep, which is good.

As for me… I’ve already given up halfway for various reasons, but staying up all night is bad for the skin.

“…Huh? Were you drawing?”

“Ah? No… I… wanted to, but I thought it wouldn’t be a proper night watch if I did.”

I was unconsciously twirling the pen I always carry around with my gloved right hand. I didn’t realize it until Mika-senpai mentioned it.

If Senpai hadn’t come out, would I have kept twirling it until the end?

I developed a habit of twirling my pen when I’m spacing out ever since I started drawing, but when did I even take it out?… If I’m taking it out and twirling it, it might be a bit serious…

“Indeed… hmm… it has an atmosphere… That’s why… it’s even sadder…”

“Yes… Besides… the moon is bright today… so the surrounding scenery is clearly visible… If there was no civil war in Arius… If that woman who caused those people so much pain wasn’t there…

I wonder… Maybe I would have been sitting here with Senpai, like we were sightseeing… and drawing pictures…”

The outskirts of Arius were full of antique buildings and ruins, so the atmosphere was quite nice…

But countless buildings had collapsed due to the scars of the civil war, and whether it was because of that woman or not…

it was so bad that finding an object that let in light was difficult, and roads existed only in name, not properly maintained.

“Sora-chan… are you okay…?”

“…Yes?… Ah… Yes, I’m fine.”

Mika-senpai suddenly asked about my well-being. For a moment, I almost fell into doubt because it was difficult to guess the reason and intention,

but Mika-senpai’s gaze was directed at my right hand, which was covered by a glove. Truly… Mika-senpai is a kind-hearted person…

“I thought it was a little unfair, hard, and sad… but you know? I’m fine now. You’re one of the people responsible… and you’re asking me… Besides, shouldn’t I be asking you that, Mika-senpai?”

“Ahaha… hmm… that’s right… hmm… I’m… I guess I’m still not okay… hmm…”

Of course, that’s natural. Mika-senpai almost killed her most precious friend with her own hands, almost plunged herself into the abyss, and almost destroyed her beloved hometown, her sanctuary.

The experience of almost losing someone is not something that can be easily buried.

“Even now… and… sometimes… I feel like I want to just… push everything away, Arius and everything… hmm…”

Mika-senpai held my right hand with both of hers and continued to speak. The pen fell to the ground, creating a brief silence, but the silence didn’t last long.

“But… hmm, that kind of talk doesn’t suit us, does it? Hmm? Right?”

“Haha, are you telling me what I told you, Senpai?”

“Ahaha☆ Do I sound proud?”

“Huh? You hit the nail on the head~”

“Hmm… so… like Sora-chan said… I think those kids just didn’t get a chance… hmm… that’s… unfair, isn’t it? When I think about it that way, I can’t hate them anymore… I don’t know what’s what anymore…

So… I thought maybe it wouldn’t be bad to just follow a trustworthy junior a little…”

“That’s enough. If you don’t know the way, if you don’t know what to do, just… let yourself be led. Just follow the person in front of you.

Even if it’s hard to follow. Even if… you fall far behind, at some point, at a crossroads, if there’s another path, a path that feels like ‘Ah, this is my path,’ then start running from there. Isn’t that enough? What do you think?”

“Ahaha☆ I can’t keep up~ Hmm! Okay! Let’s do that. Hmm, so… you have to escort me well from the front, my knight? It’s hard to run in high heels~”

“Yes~ Of course~ My princess~”

The moon that day was very bright… and… beautiful.

“Fuu… Is everything ready?”

“Yes, it is complete, Nagisa-sama.”

I don’t know how surprised I was when Mika-san suddenly told me at night that it was time, that it was now, and that we had to go.

“It’s been a long time… Yes, finally.”

But we were not yet fully prepared, and we could not recklessly deploy troops in a situation where we did not even know the location.

Trinity is still unstable both internally and externally, so it was extremely unsettling to send only Mika-san and Sora-yang.

“Nagisa, the artillery squad is also ready.”

Nevertheless, we have completed all the preparations, and with what our ancestors have bestowed upon us, it is finally time to settle the mistakes, the homework, they left us here.

“Then… Seia-san? I will leave Trinity to you for a while.”

“Of course, so… make sure those two come back safely, save everyone, and return with happy faces.”

“Yes, then…”

I take the terminal ordered from Millennium and board the helicopter. The terminal periodically received coordinates, displaying someone’s location on the screen.

Yes, the reason for sending only Mika-san and Sora-yang was to find out the location. The passages leading to Arius periodically change their structure, and there are almost no records left, so it was impossible to pinpoint their location.

That’s why we look to the sky. I already know from Azusa-san that the Arius District is not exactly underground.

Then, GPS can also be used. I don’t know how much my heart raced when the signal from the GPS attached to Mika-san briefly disappeared as she entered the passage leading to the Arius District.

But at least now, the location is clearly visible, so all that’s left is to pull the trigger.

To avoid completely emptying Trinity, only one transport helicopter is heading to Arius. But… even so, this operation will never fail. It has to be that way.

“Wow… this… Sora-chan… Wouldn’t it have been less rough if you had come to the Justice Realization Committee instead?”

“Fufu, it might be a good idea to try recruiting her after this is over. What do you think, Tsurugi?”

“Kehehe… she was quite… an interesting junior…”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but she is a valued member of our team. Please refrain, okay?”

It’s light. It’s definitely not the atmosphere of heading to a place that’s almost a battlefield right now. But even so, there’s no need to worry.

So they’re suffering from adults? Then… yes, to borrow Sora-yang’s words… I will bring down the one who took everyone’s opportunities, insulted learning, and mocked education.

It will also be worth seeing the figure who has been ignoring the students, having everything taken away by them, and screaming in despair.

What, it’s okay to include some personal feelings about hurting my precious person, right? So… now, it’s time to do things our Trinity way.