Chapter 22: Anesthesia

As soon as we faced each other, we aimed our respective guns at each other.

As usual, I raised my left wing as a shield and aimed the gun, the Garand, with one hand.

Since the fox’s firearm is at a certain distance, it’s not certain, but it’s a Type 99.

The firepower is superior on my side.

Therefore, I start shooting and advancing without hesitation.

-Bang, bang, bang, bang-

-Bang!-

One bullet from the fox flies through the barrage of the Garand.

“…Ugh?!”

“Fufu… Were you just a woman who talks big?”

I’ve faced an opponent using a Type 99 about once before.

So I knew its power and was slowly advancing while returning fire without much worry, but the impact on my wing now far surpassed the impact of the Type 99 I experienced before.

Sometimes there are humans who can easily surpass the limit power that their guns can produce.

The Prefect Team Leader of Gehenna was like that, and the vice-president of the Gourmet Research Society was like that.

The fox in front of me was just one of them.

Unfortunately, I don’t have such an ability, so I probably have to bring it to close combat, where I’m definitely superior to the fox.

“Haha… You must be tired…”

-Bang, bang, bang, bang, Ping!-

I empty all the remaining rounds of the Garand.

The unique sound of the Garand rings out and the clip pops out.

The fox also knew this, and as soon as the sound rang out, she jumped out of cover and aimed the Type 99.

-Bang!-

The Type 99 held by the fox spits fire.

The impact on the wing is bearable compared to the first shot.

Yeah, she probably can’t fire that kind of thing in rapid succession.

I casually threw the Garand and took out the Daedalus that was holstered on my thigh.

The skirt was a bit uncomfortable, so I just ripped it a little.

-Bang!!-

“Ugh… You’re using something tough, miss…”

A hideous gunshot rings out and the fox’s shoulder sways back significantly.

No matter how strong she is, it’s hard to withstand this without any damage.

More than that, miss?

The fox changes her posture.

Until now, the fox has been returning fire from behind cover, but from this moment on, the fox started running.

I also run after her.

-Bang! Bang!-

Two impacts are applied to the wing that is used as a shield.

The fox’s Type 99 is definitely a bolt-action.

The process of ejecting the cartridge is necessary, so that level of rapid fire is impossible unless you’re a skilled person.

It’s no wonder she’s called one of the Seven Prisoners.

The fox is now fully aware of the Daedalus.

That’s why the fox is maintaining a moderate distance so that I don’t give up completely, and is slowly backing away and repeating return fire.

Not being able to close the distance is not good for me.

The difference in the effective range of the guns is too great.

It would be better to narrow the distance with the fox sufficiently here, even if it’s a bit unreasonable.

I increase my running speed.

My physical condition is definitely better, so I should be able to close the distance sufficiently.

Aware of this, the fox’s running speed increases and then she suddenly stops and gets into position.

Three gunshots from the Type 99 ring out, and three impacts are applied to the wing.

“It’s really a tough way of fighting…?”

“I have to use what I can!”

I don’t stop running and continue to pursue.

The magazine of the Type 99 is 5 rounds.

Then this is the time for her to reload.

I have to aim for this…?

The reloading speed is ridiculous.

In an instant, in front of her hand movements, the empty magazine is dropped to the ground and a new magazine is inserted into the Type 99.

“Can you keep up?!”

“Is this some kind of action movie…”

The fox stops the chase with me…and climbs up the building on the wall with acrobatic movements.

She kicks off the wall, jumps, sits on the structure of another wall, shoots, and repeats jumping immediately.

Certainly, I can follow that level of jumping, but it’s impossible for me to move three-dimensionally like that, thinking about the next foothold, and shooting in between.

-Bang!-

The sound of the Type 99 is heard, and the impact is applied to the side of my head late.

I can’t last long in this state.

-Bang!-

This time from behind.

I was a little flustered and allowed the first shot, but it’s not a level I can’t react to.

A bullet flying from behind is blocked by the wing.

I immediately fire the Daedalus in the direction it came from, but it’s hard to expect a valid hit.

By the time I shoot, she’s no longer there.

She’s already stepped on another foothold and moved.

I wonder if I was being led?

It’s also because the battlefield changed to a narrow alley at some point that such movement is possible.

If I continue to maintain this aspect, it will be me who collapses at the very end.

Guarding with the wings is not omnipotent. There is a limit.

And the first powerful shot hasn’t been used since then, but it can be used at any time.

I need to change the flow of the battle.

I empty the cartridges from the cylinder of the Daedalus and insert the speed loader to reload.

“Why don’t you come down?!”

I put a bullet in all the structures on the building wall that the fox used as a foothold until now, and that could be used as a foothold, and make them fall to the ground.

“I was planning to come down anyway?!

I’ll make you cry miserably!”

As if to make fun of me trying to follow the continued movement until now, the fox, who landed in front of me in the gap created by dropping the footholds to the ground, got into position and started shooting.

Five gunshots ring out and hit the wing.

Each bullet was as powerful as the first one, so my expression distorts due to the impact and pain I feel.

I didn’t think she could fire that kind of thing in rapid succession.

But there must have been a gap.

My expectations were betrayed in a really annoying way.

What I saw through the gap in the wing was the fox taking a shooting stance with one hand.

The guard of the wing is pushed aside by the impact of the last bullet.

My posture also staggers greatly.

The fox rushes in, aiming for that gap.

She runs as if to finish it with this, holding the bayoneted Type 99 forward as if to stab.

Thankfully.

“We’re finally close?!”

“Wh…what?!”

I support my body by planting my right leg into the ground as if to fix it, and adjust my posture.

I grab the barrel of the Type 99 that was heading towards me as if to stab with my left hand and push it up.

“Wait…what kind of power is this!”

“I wonder if you know how frustrated I’ve been so far! Clench your teeth! And I hope the mask isn’t expensive!”

I just let go of the Daedalus… clench my right fist tightly…and punch towards the fox’s face, the mask.

-Whack! Crash!-

The fox is blown away.

She hits the structure, rolls a few times, and then stops as if lying on the ground.

“…I thought you were a lady…but you’re a violent savage…huh?”

Half of the mask that the fox was wearing is broken and the pieces are scattered on the floor.

Half of the fox’s face is visible.

But that’s not the point she’s embarrassed about.

I’m still holding the Type 99 that she used to use.

“It’s quite an antique-looking item? Does it have a name?”

“…. “

I can see her expression distorting greatly beyond the broken half of the mask.

She probably wants to rush in right away, but… she also has no weapons and seems to know that close combat is hopeless because of that.

She kicks the wall of the building again and disappears over the building.

I can chase her, but I’m also hit hard.

If it’s her, she might be able to steal another student’s or Sukeban’s gun while I’m chasing her and respond.

It would be better to give up the chase.

I hold the spoils of war in my hand, retrieve the Garand and Daedalus, and was thinking of joining Sensei, who would be dealing with the Crusader and the Sukeban.

But Sensei’s command was already there, and the other personnel were also composed of quite skilled people, so the Crusader was half-destroyed and Sensei was saying goodbye to the people waiting in front of Schale.

Well, everything seems to have been resolved, so I naturally join.

“Ah, I confirmed that the General Student Council has regained control of the Sanctum Tower.”

“I missed Wakamo. I’m sorry, Hanekawa, Sensei.”

“Wakamo escaped to the student autonomous district…but she’ll be arrested soon. We’re done here.

I’ll leave the rest to the person in charge.”

[More than that…that skirt..]

“…Please lose your memory…Sensei…”

…My leg was exposed through the skirt that I ripped when I took out the Daedalus.

I quietly check the remaining rounds of the Type 99 I stole from Wakamo.

Fortunately, there were about 2 rounds left.

[Whoa! Sorry!]

“Good work, Sensei. Sensei’s activities will spread throughout Kivotos. It might even be posted on social media right away?”

[Ahem… Good work everyone.]

“It’s goodbye for now, but please visit Trinity Comprehensive Academy soon. Sensei.”

“I will also report today’s events to the Prefect Team Leader. If you come to Gehenna Academy, please stop by.”

“If you come to Millennium Academy, we might meet again? Sensei. Then goodbye-!”

He’s not a person I can trust yet, but the tactical command ability he showed today was excellent, so it might be good to ask for some advice on the comprehensive tactical test.

If he ever comes to Trinity, it would be good to get some help.

I got into the car that came out to the front of the Sanctum Tower to pick up my senior.

“Sora, what level was Wakamo?”

“…I hope she doesn’t come to Trinity… She can gather that level of Sukeban, and her own combat power was similar to mine or higher…”

“…It would be better to prepare separate measures… Even if it’s not Wakamo, the Seven Prisoners are definitely a threat…”

I spent time discussing the content of the engagement with Wakamo and her group in the car.

I put the Type 99 I stole from Wakamo in my personal locker in the Tea Party’s dressing room, changed my ripped clothes, and headed to the Tea Party office.

There was no one in the Tea Party office except for Nagisa.

I report everything that happened at the General Student Council today.

“…I see. Sensei and Schale… Maybe… We can get help… And the disappearance of the General Student Council President is true after all… The complete suspension of the Eden Treaty… It’s not good news…”

“Yes…”

….I expected it. The Eden Treaty was a treaty that could be established because the General Student Council President existed… It’s depressing.

It’s not a pleasant experience for me that what I’ve been doing is becoming meaningless…

“Sora, can you make sure that what I’m about to say is never leaked to the outside?”

“….Yes?”

“This is something that only Seia and I knew. It’s not even in the execution stage, and it’s a story that is in the middle of making a plan from scratch.”

I’m embarrassed.

What kind of confidential information is there for a low-level member like me….

I still don’t know what to do about what I’ve done… I wish I could rest a little… I wish I had time to resolve my guilt and self-loathing… No, I’ll never be able to resolve this.

I… I only know how to achieve something by grinding something, sacrificing something, and cutting myself down when I try to achieve something.

I don’t know how to solve the collateral damage to myself and those around me.

That’s why I only know how to cut myself down forever.

How can I know how to heal the things I cut down on myself?

I didn’t have the steel mentality of the protagonist in the web novel that my old friend sometimes showed me.

I can’t think of a way to save everyone and make everyone happy.

The effect of the anesthetic I obtained by throwing myself into work and fights is gradually ending.

What’s left is self-loathing that remains thick and creaking, and laughter towards myself at the sight of becoming like the existence I hated.

I didn’t know it because I was turning away from myself with a strong narcotic anesthetic,

but I didn’t have the right to evaluate the person that the superhuman had already established and recognized, and I didn’t have the right to distrust him.

Self-loathing, which has nothing to do with now, the disgust that I pushed back with the anesthetic, comes rushing in.

“I, along with Seia, intend to rebuild the Eden Treaty.”

“Yes?”

My thoughts stopped for a moment.