Soldier Boy and Angel Girls

by Dalubhasa69420

The GSC President wished for a kind dependable and reliable adult to lead the many students of Kivotos as a teacher, who knew what to do at every situation, who had the integrity and responsibility to fulfill their obligations, one who never abandons his students... unfortunately, she has to settle for an ex child soldier with heroin addiction.A03crosspost

6. Chapter 6

Soldier Boy and Angel Girls

Rio P.O.V

Looking down from the top of Millennium Tower, I stare at that supposedly magical portal near the center of the school.

I've seen many go through and out of it... I have been tempted to try it out for myself, but I would never entrust my life to some unscientific, incomprehensible, illogical nonsense.

Yet Yuuka, of all people! Believe that nonsense spouted out by that Sensei boy, by the superstitious and ignorant public, and regurgitated by just about everyone else in Kivotos.

There's no other logical explanation than those tiles with spiral patterned carvings being some kind of unknown technology, with the cross symbol of the Trinity Sisterhood being the switch to it's activation.

Yet... each and every scan I've done on it shows that there's nothing inside or underneath it. It could quite possibly be alien technology.

Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, as it's often been said. That is more than likely the case here.

Copies of those skin bibles that were printed out, and distributed by the GSC under that Sensei Boys orders piled over eachother in my desk, with the one about a nature deity in my hands as I finished reading it.

I've been dreading that even with all of my preparations and measures, that the nameless gods pawns would still sweep through Kivotos with little resistance, but... reading one of the two versions of the skin bible of the god Vinushka.

I feel relief, hope, and invigorated determination that humans have the capability of not only slaying such beings, but also to use them for our own gain.

I assumed that these gods were part of the nameless ones, but... none of these gods, even the two that represents humanity have anything to do with technology, nor did it mention any advancements in science and technology that's even closely comparable to what the nameless gods and their priests left behind.

Both were medieval, archaic, and ancient in just about every aspect, with the God of Fear and Hunger supposedly herding and pushing humanity into the industrial age... yet still no mentions of technology that can even come close to the nameless gods... completely useless...

Now, that Sensei... Levi of Prehevil as the GSC updated information regarding his identifications with Yuuka reporting so as she witnessed the update in person... even his name sounds medieval.

Those rats coming out of his shadow... that red and black vacuum explosion... that sword manifesting from his blood... the light purplish aura closing the bloody hole in his stomach... definitely not magic!

There's just no possible way, yet visual proof of it being just that is just out in the open! And I can't come up with anything to refute any of it being magic!

"Hey, good morning, President! I'm here to bring you these budget requests." I heard Yuuka's voice greeting me. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't even register the sound of the automatic doors sliding open.

I turn my head to look at her. "Yes, good morning, Yuuka." Returning her greeting as I did. Wait... what are those blue moths around her? Did the Engineering Club make that for her? To perhaps quench her fury?

As I looked, she notices where my eyes are lying on. "Oh these?" She said, her face brightening into a smile and awe, her even eyes sparking. "It's magic, Sensei taught me!" She happily proclaimed... damnit... she's actually believing that nonsense... those are probably just-

"I can tell you don't believe it." Precisely, I don't believe in such-

My thoughts freeze as those moths swarmed me, circling around me in close proximity with some even landing on my shoulders or hands and arms.

These are... they're all organic... how is she... controlling them? Could it actually be... no, no, no. Maybe it was trained from birth? No, Yuuka wouldn't commit to something like that. Even then... I don't think it is possible for moths to be trained.

I felt my eye twitching, a massive headache coming to my head as I felt fury at the notion of magic... being real. I couldn't stop myself from lashing out, roaring slightly as I waved my body and arms around, driving away the moths.

"That's the first time I've seen you mad, President Rio." Yuuka said with a worried tone, the blue moths returning to her side. I... acted completely unprofessional in that moment, I acknowledge that the sight of me acting so must be concerning. "Sorry, I shouldn't have had them swarm you." I honestly refuse to believe she controls them, as it's most definitely that Sensei and his parlor tricks playing pranks on people.

"I know how it feels, Rio." Yuuka said with a worried sigh, forgetting to address me by my title. Don't tell me... she's actually trying to convince me it's real. "I felt the same when he told us he could read minds." She said, a pout appearing in her face... first of all, he's a hundred percent just messing with them. Second of all, shouldn't she be more worried if he could actually read minds?! So why of all reactions, is she blushing?!

"I can see... how that would be concerning." I say, a hand going up to my chin making a thinking motion. I'm simply going to start playing along, I don't need to be seen as crazy trying desperately to refuse the existence of something absolutely deranged as everyone simply accepts it. "So, how did you learn how to control those moths." I ask in genuine curiosity, as she may perhaps have a more elaborate explanation.

I mean, it's better than just saying magic and waving it off, that doesn't work outside of movies.

Yuuka looks eager to explain. "So first of all. To be able to learn magic, you first need affinity for a certain god that holds the specific spell you want." ... I just need to listen a little more to what amounts to mythology of a tabletop game or a fantasy story lore, and I'm done. "For that, you can either draw their symbols on one of those tiles." She explained, pointing to the direction of that red and black portal.

"Or you can do some kind of ritual to whichever god you want or for whatever spell you want." Interesting... I expected the prerequisites to be more complicated, but these are surprisingly simple. Although, I wonder...

"And what sort of rituals would each god want?" I ask, expressing interest as I make a motion for her to keep going. She widens her eyes as she's thinking about something before her cheeks flushed red... this is going to be interesting.

"For the goddess of love, you need to touch yourself... down there." Yuuka muttered, looking away shyly. Seriously? That's... absolutely deranged, as I expected.

That flushed expression stays as it mixed into one of disgust. "Human or blood sacrifice for Gro-goroth." That... would be concerning given that he obviously used a spell that created destruction... don't tell me he- "Whatever the Sisterhood of Trinity does for Alll-Mer. Prayers for the God of Fear and Hunger... oh yeah, dieting or fasting isn't worship to it." She went on. Hmm, so fasting is not a form of worship to the latter... how contradictory.

"He doesn't know what counts as worship for the Moon God or the Nature God." She said, expressing the same kind of confusion as I did. The latter, also called in the books as the Trickster God who "unveils the truth underneath human filth in his light", whatever that means... could it be an analogy for revealing lies, deceit, or a persons true self? It's probably what gave him his mind... reading...

I'm not actually starting to believe all of this slop, am I?!

For the latter deity of nature, I'm not surprised that any customs regarding a dead god would be unknown, or have been forgotten to the point that any information about it is rare or basically nonexistent.

Now I wonder. "And to which did those moths belong to?" It's most likely useless information, but it would still sate my curiosity that's been making me restless.

"None of them, it's a new one." She said, closing her eyes as she turned back to the door, no doubt leaving to finish more of her duties after saying what she has to.

A new one? Hmph, as I thought, that so called teacher boy is making stuff up.

"The Machine God, basically giving her magic away without need for any act of worship to it." As she explained, the automatic door slid closed. I'm glad it did as I slammed my hands down my desk at that reveal, my eyes widening to the point that I no doubt look deranged.

Breath in... breath out... breath it... breath out.

...

...

...

If such a god truly existed, then if it wanted to it could cripple all of my assets, Millennium, basically all of Kivotos with how dependant on technology we are.

I refuse to believe it... but with how nothing makes sense about... just everything that has to do with that boy, I have to swallow my pride... and acknowled- no consider the fact that it's actually magic... for now at least, no matter how little sense it makes scientifically speaking.

Alright... where do I even start?

/

Nonomi P.O.V

Uwah, I yawned as I stretched my arms up and arced my back. I really came this early to the school, I don't think my fellow schoolmates are yet on their way to school or even woke up yet.

Hmm, they probably are given how hardworking they all are.

I hear the portal making that sound it makes when people go through it. I turn to look at it and of course, it is Levi-Sensei who comes through it.

Looking newly bathed with how wet his hair is and how smooth his skin looks even from this distance. He's probably still half asleep with how his eyes are closed and how he's yawning exactly like I did walking out the portal.

He stops, and turns his head to look at me. I wave at him and smile as I was about to shout out a greeti-

Eh?! I freeze and widen my eyes as he just disappeared, flickering out of sight in a split second like in DBZ with instant transmission.

And in another split second, he appears in front of me with a slight flickering. That... actually startled me for a moment, making me trip down to my butt as I took a step back with a yelp at his sudden teleportation.

I look up at him, holding his head with his only arm as his body is wobbling around. The sapphire gem of that magical ring he took from Serika glimmering as sunlight made contact with it.

He said it would make him less dependant on alcohol, and by extension, any mind influencing substances for casting spells. So it's a relief to know that Serika didn't totally waste all of her savings.

"Ughh, that... feels really weird." He groaned as he no doubt was talking about the teleportation spell that he apparently now has. "Hey Nonomi, sorry if I scared you." Looks like he recovered from the nausea really quick, holding his hand out to me.

I take his hand, pulling me up as I pulled my self up.

"No worries Sensei, that was amazing!" I gushed out at the instant transmission spell. I mean, just imagine how the fights are gonna look. "It's gonna be like in anime where you're just so fast that everyone sees you as a blur!" Yeah! everyone's eyes won't be able to register it!

"We already had that with Shiroko and Iori." He said with a small smile. I mean, yeah, her duel with the Prefect squad Captain was brief but totally awesome! "This is the second time you've mentioned anime, mind explaining that?" Of course Sensei! When we have the time.

"Anyways, how is Master Shiba?" I ask, worried about the kind chef's condition. "I thought it would have been overwhelming for him if we all visited, so I didn't come along." I added, explaining my perspective on the matter.

"Oh he's well." He said happily, raising his voice a bit with eagerness. "So well infact, that he's opening up again soon. He's also gonna start serving goulash!" That's great to know! And that goulash dish he cooked... I could tell it was delicious, but apart from Master and Ayane, we never got a taste.

"Don't worry, you'll get a taste of it soon." That's a promise, alright. I thought, making it clear with the smile I'm giving him.

Now that that's out of the way. "Yesterday, Shiroko-chan said she overheard you talking with the Gehenna Prefect Head Hina talking." I said, pausing to give him ample time to process my words. "She said that the people who invaded your hometown, "Bremens" as you called them, had similar intentions to what Kaiser has for Abydos?" I ask with a concerned, inquisitive tone. There's also the funny coincidence of the Bremens have something to do with the name Kaiser, but that's not important right now.

I see his face darkening, eyes going into a thousand yard stare at my words... before he shook his head. "Yeah, it'll be faster to explain with everyone present." Well, I can't argue with that. He turns, walking to the school entrance while I followed.

From behind us, I hear the cackling of chains and something dragging itself across the sandy ground. Both Levi-Sensei and I turn around, and sure enough-

"Nonomi, Sensei. You two are already here." It's Shiroko, getting off of her bike as she greeted us. "Where's Hoshino?" She asked, a little hasty with how she asked. Not even letting us speak our hello's.

"Hoshino? She's already inside, probably still asleep." I answered. Now that I think about it, Hoshino always stays behind the school... does she even go back to her own house?

Shiroko closes her eyes in thought of something. "Sensei, how's the Master?" She asked him, opening her eyes as she spoke and came closer to us.

Levi-Sensei halts his steps as he turns around to face me, bobbing his head left and right between me and Shiroko before blinking his eyes and turning again to keep walking.

"Oh yes! Sensei already told me he's fine. He's even reopening soon, and he'll start serving that goulash dish Sensei cooked before." As I explained with a smile, I see her making an expression of relief before it turned back to one of seriousness.

"Well, there's also the fact that something else is up." I added, letting her take in what I said before I continued. "Levi-Sensei is waiting for everyone so he can explain more clearly." Yup, it would be tedious having to keep explaining the same thing over and over repeatedly.

"... Is that so?" Shiroko asked with the neutral, indiscernible expression she usually has. "I'm coming in the school first then." So she said, walking a little too frantically towards the school building, even overpassing Sensei.

Is it just me... or is she actually nervous about something? I've rarely, if at all, seen her like this... I hope I'm just imagining it.

/

Hoshino P.O.V

Ueeh, it was peaceful and comforting, simply sleeping on the classroom desks with my head comfortable around my arms.

It sure was a long, tiring day yesterday. The walks between the Kaiser Executives place, along with that guy in a black suit who invited me over, coming to my juniors rescue as the Gehenna Prefect Team attacked... I kind of wanted to swoop in and save them like a knight in shining armor, with their eyes wide in admiration of their senpai.

But Levi with his leadership skills, even being outnumbered and outgunned, he managed to withstand and even would've even beat off the Prefect team even without me or the Prefect Chairwoman coming to help.

There's also the fact that the Prefect Head also beat me to the rescue, tugging on the leash of her assistant who went off and did her own thing. And lastly... the walk back to school and my usual patrol for the occasional troublemakers.

So yeah, I was comfortable with my deserved rest... until Shiroko-chan barged in the classroom, carried me by the collars, and slammed me on a cabinet with such force that some books fell out.

It was bad enough that this little junior of mine is taller than me, but to actually abuse your elders like that!

"Ouch! Shiroko-chan, that hurts!" I groaned out, barely opening my eyes to look at her furious eyes with how tired I am. Hmm, this... I haven't seen her like this since I first met her.

"You know something!" She's not asking, she's stating, accusing me even. "What is it?!" Hmm, whatever could she be asking? Is it the- no, I'm not gonna think it. You're reading my mind even right now, aren't you?

"Shiroko... I haven't the slightest idea of what you're saying." I half answered a little fancily, half yawned as I felt my eyes closing. I open my eyes ever so slightly, seeing Shiroko staring into it with suspicion.

"... That's a lie." So she said, obviously upset with my answer. How would she know? Don't tell me... did Sensei teach you that mind reading magic?!

"It's not a lie..-" I was about to deny, opening my eyes fully in slight panic. I was interrupted as the classroom doors slid open, and barged in a furious looking Nonomi with Levi-Sensei, his dark purplish hair looking fresh yet sleepy as he rubbed his eyes. "Huh?!" Were they listening the whole time? He takes his hand off his face, looking at me and then shaking his head sideways before nodding away.

Does that mean... no, you didn't teach Shiroko how to read minds. And yes, you and Nonomi were listening the whole time? To the questions in my mind, he nods.

"Hoshino, Shiroko. What's going on here?" Nonomi sure looks mad... this is a first for her, eh she'll proba- "What the hell is going on here?" She said in a scolding tone, her expression morphed into visible displeasure. That's scary! Even the ever so stoic Shiroko here is startled.

"Yeah... and this early too!" Levi-Sensei whined in annoyance, still looking half asleep. Hmm, was he up all night as well?

"This is between me and Hoshino." Shiroko silently talked back with narrowed eyes. Ueeh, this is gonna be-

"You mean "Hoshino and I", I never went to a proper school yet somehow I'm better than you in grammar." Levi-Sensei rebutted, obviously not liking Shiroko's answer. Ueeh, that's one way of flipping the table in your favor. I mean, Shiroko actually looks flabbergasted, she's stammering trying to come up with backtalk. "So you mind explaining... whatever's happening here?" That got Shiroko to snap out of her stupor.

"That... just leave us, please." You could just read her mind, right? I see his eyes turning to glare at me before going back to Shiroko.

Hmm, is it because you don't want to? or you don't need to?

"No can do!" The way Nonomi said that coupled with her signature cheery smile is kind of uncanny. I know deep down that she's upset, so that smile is... "There are no secrets in the Foreclosure Task Force. We're together no matter what happens, right?" I... hehe.. how would she, no, they feel once they find out how much I've been hiding.

The voice of Shiroko stuttering as she struggled to reply is drowned out by the sinking feeling inside me along with my heart skipping a beat is... how would they look at me?

"So if you don't give us an explanation." Nonomi spoke with a motherly smile, each word is one step she's taking closer to us. "You'll be punished." She said, our faces just inches away from eachother.

"That's... right." Shiroko muttered, looking down as she did. I guess I should also explain my side.

"Uhm... so.." I trailed off, trying to come up with something while my eyes are still sealed. "I was caught sleeping a little too much." I explained, opening one my eyes to look at them.

"But you know how lazy I am." I kept going, closing my eye as I felt the sleepiness creeping in more. "It's the same as breathing for me." That's not even an exaggeration.

"You take things too seriously, Shiroko." I said, opening my eyes to look at her. "It's about time for the meeting, I'm heading to the club room." And with that, I walked past them and out of the classroom.

Hmm, Levi mouthed off something... I'm not good at lip reading, but I think he said we had to talk later.

/

Well... this is awkward. The four of us seating around the meeting table waiting for Ayane and Serika after the situation earlier... yeah, really awkward.

But more importantly, what Shiroko said she overheard from Levi-Sensei's discussion with the Gehenna Head Prefect, something about those Bremen peoples motives for invading similar to what Kaiser wants here in Abydos...

I hear frantic footsteps closing in, they're finally here.

Serika first rushes inside the meeting room. "Guys, it's bad. You need to look at these!" So she said, gesturing to Ayane who followed her in, holding a map and a document in her hands.

"Levi-Sensei, You were right about yesterday!" Ayane said with a dire tone, looking over to Sensei. Hmm, he's right? About what? She walked to the table, setting down the map and documents.

"Is this... a map of Abydos?" I said in between a tired yawn, barely able to open my eyes to look. Hmm, it's a property map? Including the recent transactions? Ayane, why did she...?

"So... this shows who owns the land around Abydos?" I can see why Nonomi is confused. I mean- "Everyone knows that Abydos land belongs to the school, so why did you bring this up?" Yeah, exactly. Why did Ayane have to bring this here?

"No, that's not true!" Serika screamed in frustrated denial, walking over the table and gesturing to the map.

"Yes, it's as Levi-Sensei theorized yesterday when we visited Master Shiba." Ayane followed up to Serika with a worried tone. And what did Levi talk abo- "At some point, the buildings around Abydos District were conceded... or taken as Sensei said." Wait...

"What?!" I bolted up, heart beating faster and waking me up fully at the news. "You mean Abydos District doesn't belong to Abydos?" I ask in confusion, flipping through the papers Ayane brought with her.

This... is...

"The current owner..." Nonomi trailer off, not wanting to believe what we we're seeing.

"Yes... it's Kaiser Construction." Ayane finished for her, sadness laces in her voice. "With the only exception being the main school building and some other surrounding structures." What about everything else?

I see and hear all of them expression their surprise and shock... except Levi-Sensei, he just looks annoyed and furious greeting his teeth.

"Goddamnit..." He muttered, lowly but still enough for us to hear. "I'm really doing this shit again?" He hissed as he closed his eyes, sighing out in an attempt to contain his obvious anger.

Now everyone has their eyes set on him as they heard his words. Again? He said again, does that mean... he has a solution to all this? Even with how hopeless it seems?

"You have a way to deal with that, Sensei?" Ayane asked, leaning over to his direction on the table. The others, even me are all looking to him... hoping that he has something up his sleeve.

He slowly turns his head around looking at us each, sighing out as he gritted his teeth again. "The only way I know of... to take back lost territory..." Why does he sound ang...ry... oh... no, you shouldn't have asked, Ayane. "Is to kill the occupiers." He said silently, his expression is... cold and empty, looking like he's somewhere else.

... this is bad... we just triggered his PTSD. My juniors all widened their eyes in fear and alarm at his words, even taking some steps away from him. He's hunched over, trying to grasp something at his chest or neck as he breathed heavily.

"H-hopefully... we won't h-have to do t-that." He stuttered out, anxiety in his eyes... probably from the way we're looking at him, afraid and in shock at the solution he gave to the Kaiser problem. "R-Rin said... she'll come up... w-with something about K-Kaiser." So he said with hope in his eyes and voice, and a desperate smile in his face. The Acting President? It's great knowing she's on our side but... will she actually come to our aid?

He turns his head slightly to me, his eyes doing the rest of the turning before he slowly nodded with a smile. That's great then.

"A-anyway... it's as you said yesterday, L-Levi-Sensei." Ayane stuttered speaking to Sensei. I mean, it was pretty scary to hear the solution you had for Kaiser. "The past Abydos Student Council must've given away the land at some point." Thats... I feel my teeth gritting and eyes narrowing, almost like how Sensei was expressing his anger just now.

"But why would they do that?" Well, you see, Nonomi...

"They probably sold it in hopes of lowering the debt numbers." I chimed in, sitting back down as I did with a sigh. "Only the Student Council would've had the authority for that." I explained, the hopelessness of it slowly sinking in for me... and most likely them as well.

"The Abydos Student Council... they already disbanded two years ago." I'm pretty sure it was even a short while before that, Nonomi.

"Yes... the last transaction happened in that time period." Ayane concluded, looking unsure... probably of what's ahead of us in the future... same with Shiroko, Nonomi, and Serika.

"Stupid council members... selling the school's land like that." Serika sounds angry, I see her expression darkening into a glare. "The school belongs to us students, so why..." Like I said, Serika.

"Nothing you could've done about it, it all happened before you guys even enrolled." I explained, catching their eyes and attention. "Before the Foreclosure Task Force even came into being." Hmm, maybe it would've been better to- no... absolutely not.

"What do you know, Hoshino?" Shiroko asked, leaning over to my with an inquisitive expression.

"Yeah, you were part of the Student Council back then." Followed by Nonomi. With Levi, Ayane, and of course Serika looking over to me.

"I don't know much, by the time I enrolled here the student body count was just in the single digits. After a short while, it was just the two of us." I explained, reminiscing the time when she... was still by my side. "The past student council didn't leave any documents, or... just about anything at all." I feel bad at the disappointment my juniors are showing me... but that's that.

"Hoshino..." I hear Levi trailing off, with a hint of disappointment in his voice. I turn to look at him, and... it's like he's looking down on me. "What's with that weak tone yours?" Eh?! What's with that look you're giving me?!

"Yeah... despite how lazy you look, you were always keeping us afloat." Just earlier, Shiroko was upset with me. So why is she suddenly praising me?!

"You had more fire in your eyes when we were pummeling eachother." Hey! Hey! Hey! Not in front of them! Hmm, they're already staring at me in a judgemental way. "So why do you sound so weak talking about a problem you can wave away with Nonomi here, but just don't for the challenge." That's not why we haven't asked her to pay it!

"Yes! I could just make the debt disappear and buy back all the Abydos land, with just a swipe." Nonomi happily proclaimed, visibly confident in her posture as she made a swiping motion with her hand. "But no, if my friends asks me not to, then I wont." She said, a little hint of sorrow in her tone.

"Nevermind that, you beat up Sensei?!" Of course I didn't, Serika! But I stuttered and stammered, waving my arms left and right in denial. "Se-n-pai... you're bullying a one armed person..." ... The way Serika is looking at me like garbage... it's.. it's... I can feel my stomach sinking, my chest just-

"She's not." In a split second, Levi's face turned into a cheery smile as he turned to face Serika. "That's my fault, I got her drunk then I got her mad." He said with a laugh, hand scratching the back of his head in awkwardness. That got Serika, to stop glaring at me... thanks, Levi.

"You got Hoshino-Senpai drunk?" Ayane said in a low voice, her glasses shining, hiding her expression. Yikes, Ayane looks menacing like that. "But nevermind that, we're supposed to be talking about the debt and the fact that Kaiser owns most of our land." Ayane said with a sigh, railing us back to the topic at hand.

"So, Levi-Sensei, can you tell us why you think Kaiser wants Abydos and it's land so badly?" Hmm, that's... interesting.

/

Levi P.O.V

Hmm, should I tell them the whole thing? Nah, that would sound like something that was imagined while high on-

Actually, before my thoughts come out of my mouth by itself, I put my thumb in between the teeth and press my tongue down. They all look concerned and confused at what I'm doing.

So... probably just the basics of what they wanted... If Kaiser, the Bremen one, wanted Prehevil so badly just as Kaiser, the corporation, wants Abydos, then the girls would no doubt want to know... I hope they'll buy it if I say I don't know to some of whatever they will ask.

"There's something under or in the land that they're looking for." I start, their full attention on me. "Or there's something special with the land itself." I finish up, explaining what I think is the case here.

"Hmm, I can't see what's important in a desert wasteland." Serika wondered with her eyes squinted.

"You mean to say that there's something buried under all the sand dunes that they want?" That's exactly right, Ayane.

"Maybe, the Bremens back then wanted the underground tunnels the Eastern Union built under Prehevil. Something about advanced electronics that it supposedly had." As I explained, I saw as their eyes widened, as they inched closer with each complicated sounding words and names that I said.

"And what sort of advanced electronics did it have?" Nonomi asked, her eyes sparkling in curiosity, wonder, and anticipation. Same with the other girls, even Hoshino. I mean... it's not that important now, so there's no harm in saying.

"Not as impressive as you're probably imagining." I explained, their expressions of curiosity and wonder freezing and switching to confusion. "Back there, we didn't even have all in one commodities with the function of T.Vs, telephones, music boxes, and much more that can fit in your pocket." I elaborated, taking out the phone in my pocket as I finished and waving it at them.

"Is that so?" Asked a bewildered Nonomi, with the others leaning back in disappointment. "Wait... just what kind of place did you come from? Not even having phones in this day and age." Hmm, good question actually.

"That's not important now." Hoshino butted in, setting her chin on her hands as her eyes looked on in seriousness. "Moving on, maybe Kaiser wants the old main school building buried under the sand." Old... main... this isn't the main building?

"No, the one we're in is just a spare. The old school building probably still has something they would want... if it's not that, then..." So Hoshino said... Abydos were one of the biggest, or so I've heard... and looking at Trinity, there's probably a lot more of Abydos school under all the sand. "... If we found whatever Kaiser is looking for... you think we can bargain with it for the debt and the land?" At her words, all the NLU letters that I read back in Prehevil all flash in my mind.

"No! Absolutely not!" I shouted out, bolting straight into standing and slamming my hand down the table. I see that they're all startled, frightened even at my out burst as they backed away in a panic. "The moment you let them have that, is the moment they drop all pretense and just do whatever they want!" I start breathing heavily after I let all of that out, slowly sliding back into my chair as I did.

"Levi-Sensei..." Ayane called to me in worry, the other fours expressions is the same as hers. "Were those Bremen people bad people? Bad enough that you're acting like that?" Not really...

"No, that blight of a city, Prehevil had it coming. It was already in ruins even before the invasion came." I take a second to catch my breath. Looking over them, I see that they're concerned with how I'm talking about that place. "But that's not the point. What I'm saying is..." I trail off, trying to come up with a good analogy.

"Imagine you were being held at gunpoint, and you had no Halo protecting you." I say, pausing to give them enough time to imagine the scenario. "If you gave them what they're asking for, you think they'll have any reason to leave you alive?" I see them making expressions of realization, and then of horror.

"That's... even if we hand over what they want, they... won't stop." Muttered Serika with a darkened expression of despair looking down the floor.

"Levi-Sensei, that's... one pessimistic assumption." Nonomi said in worry. Yeah, that was kind of normal back there.

"Yes, they can't be that bad. People aren't one dimensional that they're unbelievably horrible." Oh Ayane, if only she knew.

"Nn, then the only possible solution is to obliterate them." Shiroko said, inspecting her gun and cocking it with a look of determination. Of course she wouldn't let that stop her.

Everyone else is looking at her with raised eyebrows, with the exception of Hoshino just looking on the ground, contemplating something.

"That's... right." She said, the same fury back when we fought present in her tone. "The past Abydos Student Council kept selling land on discounts, hoping to curb the rising debt amount." Her eyebrows furrowing in anger as she spoke. That look in her eyes... it's like she's remembering or realizing something.

"But the sandstorms kept coming, they kept taking loans even when they couldn't pay it back and had to default, then they were forced to keep selling land." This is... the first time I've seen her really angry... on something else instead of me. "Those idiots back in the past Student Council should've seen the obvious trap, yet they kept borrowing money from Kaiser, and now we're cleaning up their mess!" She raised her voice in anger, gritting her teeth as she gripped the table so hard that her hands were starting to crush the wood.

Her juniors as she so fondly called them are looking at her worriedly.

Yeah no. "Hoshino... I used to blame my mother for why I ended up as an orphan." At my words, she snaps out of her anger. Then turning to look at me with a look of confusion, and of worry. "Is it the past Abydos' rulers fault that Kaiser was preying on them? Is it my mother's fault that she died and I was sent off into an orphanage?" I see her trembling, opening her mouth to answer... but no words come out.

I can feel the others concern and pity for me, I can also feel that they're unsure of what to say or do regarding what I just said. Like how some of the first group of girls I was with when a hole was blown through my stomach.

"It's Kaiser's fault, it's as if they were dangling a bottle of water infront of a man on the verge of death by dehydration, that man representing the past Abydos rulers. They had no choice in the matter." Most of the times, I can't even bring myself to feel absolute hate. So I don't know if Hoshino took in my words.

"Yeah... I know, of all people what it's like to get scammed." Sounds like Serika was listening intently, and probably felt the same as Hoshino. "But that's just cruel... why would Kaiser do that?" Cruel? Hmm, yeah it is. With the things I've seen, I actually considered what's happening here to be minor.

"You'd be surprised at how low people can get, Serika." I answered back to Serika, a bitter smile forcing itself on my lips.

"All I can say... is that when people are suffering, they become desperate." Hoshino said with a sigh, letting Serika take in her words before she kept going "And desperate people... will do anything to alleviate their suffering.", That's the first time I've heard you offering actual things an old man would say.

Hmm, back where I'm from, no one really did anything about their suffering, they couldn't do anything about it. So... the only thing they could do was live with it, live with the misery and keep persisting, and hopefully something good would come in the future.

"That's kind of sad... but still kind of inspirational." Yeah, I guess so Nonomi.

"Ueeh, I was just quoting someone else. But Levi-Sensei, you came up with that all on your own, and I thought I was the old man." I actually had to contain a giggle from Hoshino's words.

We stop and turn to Ayane as she fake coughed to get out attention.

"And so, that's it, it has all come together. Kaiser couldn't buy anymore land with the dissolution of the Abydos Student Council, and so they tried to drive us out with the helmet gangsters." She announced. Looks like this meeting is coming to a close. "And with Sensei's past experiences, we have figured out what they want from Abydos." I kind of wanted to just forget about all that, but it's nice knowing that it's doing something good.

"Somewhere deep in the abandoned desert, that's where Hina said they were in." I said, just remembering that one detail Hina gave me.

/

Shiroko P.O.V

Everyone has already walked out of the room and down the first floor, except for me an- I mean Sensei and I. Before he could take the stairs down, I rush to him and stop him by putting a hand on his shoulder.

"What is it, Shiroko?" Levi-Sensei asked, turning his head until he he saw me in his peripheral.

"I need to tell you something." I said, slightly pulling on his shoulder, silently asking him to follow me. And he did, turning around as I held his hand and pulled him back in the room.

I then take out the... resignation letter I snatched out of Hoshino's bag, and I hand it over to him as I opened it up.

He raises his brows in surprise as he laid his eyes on the letter, then frowned reading the contents of it.

"I haven't told everyone else about it." I let him know, as he's the only one who probably knows what to do. "But I'm pretty sure Hoshino knows that I pickpocketed her." For someone like her, it's impossible that she didn't notice.

"Shiroko, you shouldn't steal like that." He scolded with a frown as his eyes turned from the letter to me.

"She was obviously hiding something with how long she was missing yesterday, she's never gone away that long." I couldn't help but furrow my brows as I thought about her absence when the Prefect team attacked. "I know this is wrong, but I'll accept any punishment later." I will... I stole from a friend after all.

Sensei stares at me for a moment before he sighed, folding the letter one handed before he pocketed it. "Fine, I'll pretend you didn't just give me this letter." I raise my brows in surprise before nodding to him.

/

Levi P.O.V

This is... kind of relaxing, riding a train through a desert and hearing the rail tracks as the train moved through it.

Apparently, the past Abydos rulers, Student Council as they were called, had this last ditch plan to increase tourism or something by building a rail network... through a damn desert... could've been a good plan, but it didn't work as obviously, they're no longer in power.

I hear Ayane through the radio and the others talking about something, like the place where this rail leads to being desert even before the sandstorms came.

Serika's talking about how suspicious it is that Hina was the one who gave me information, and Ayane stating what is no doubt a bitter pill that Gehenna is much more better at intel stuff compared to a small academy like Abydos.

Well, I won't interrupt them talking. Pulling the headset Suzumi gifted me out of my bag, I wrap it around my head, feeling the cushions enveloping my ears before plugging it to my phone.

[Sensei, surely you're not just going to play the same song for an hour on repeat, right?] Arona said, appearing somewhere in the phone screen with a concerned look. She can do that? Cool. [There are thousands, tens of thousands of songs with each having something different.] Yeah, I guess it would be nice to hear something different. Hearing "Beat it" on repeat when I was signing those applications wore off it's charm.

[I recommend this really popular song from a really popular band, it's called Bohemian Rhapsody.] She said with a smile, turning around and doing all the swiping and tapping as she opened that Kivotube thing. Bohemian... Rhapsody? So that place is known here... or maybe it's a coincidence of similar names. [I don't think it has anything to do with the actual place, but I thought you would like it with how you're from wherever that is.] So both then. The band name is... Queen? Weird name but sure.

As Arona tapped the box with the title on the side, it expands into the whole screen with a film starting as the music did.

This is... Yeah, it's relaxing to listen to. And so, the entire ride to the desert, I was listening to all kinds of music that Arona recommended.

/

Goddamnit! The heat! I feel like I'm being roasted over an open fire! I swear I'm gonna look like O'saa by the time we find what we're looking for!

I can see the blue light shooting up to the sky with huge circles around it coming from the Sanctum Tower.

The heat... must really be getting to my head this time... I can barely register in my head what they're saying.

Nonomi saying she's been in a city in a desert, Hoshino saying she's been here before in a mission... and there is... well was an oasis near here, so big it was that people used boats for it.

Festivals were held... in this scorched hellscape? And people from other schools and districts actually came to attend?

Well whatever, I'm just... gonna keep walking... there are things on the ground some distance from us.

Those looks like... machines? Some resembling humans, two arms and legs... are they like those people in business suits with a T.V for a head? There are also many broken drones like what Ayane has.

"Automatons... and drones." I heard Hoshino mutter, looking around as we walked passed those things. Automatons? Sounds cool.

"I'm detecting something nearby." Ayane said as a hologram of her appeared from a drone. "Whatever it is, it's huge and fully manned." Damn it... I instinctually pull out my Lugr, and crouch down to make myself a smaller target.

"Wha- Ayane, you sure?!" Hoshino asked in surprise and bewilderment. "There's nothing but a dried up oasis here!" Hoshino, a flat landmass like this is ideal for a military base. Easier storage of supplies, tanks, vehicles, just about everything.

"Really?" She said, her expression turning into a serious one as she held her trench gun readily with the others doing the same. "But still... A desert for a base?" You'd be surprised how little leadership cared about us soldiers.

I was about to ask Ayane to give us directions, but I thankfully didn't have to as she told us the exact way.

And so we walked, getting sand in our clothes as the strong winds passed by us. Goddamn sand, course and rough... getting in my shoes and just about everywhere.

And then... finally... I hate being right... it's a base alright, I recognize the way those buildings are positioned into eachother inside the walls... It's almost the same, but still different in someways as our bases back then.

"What... are all of these?!" Serika shouted in exasperation.

"These... wasn't here the last time." I hear Hoshino talking in a cautious tone.

"Barbed wire... these kinds of facilities..." Shiroko's observing the whole place.

"I don't think those are oil rigs... so what the heck is it?" Does it really matter now, Nonomi?

Ratatatat!

I hear a burst of gunfire, the sand near us being thrown up as bullets impacted it. I turn to where the firing came from as I rushed behind a nearby building for cover, the girls doing the same as we scattered.

"Intruders! Capture them!" One of those blue machine looking people ordered out as they spread out, laying down suppressive fire on us.

I see Hoshino in her cover, running around it, most likely to attack them from the flank. Alright then.

"Ayane, bomb them!" I don't have a radio on me, but she still heard me, one of her drones ascending higher up the air before dropping it's payload.

Boom!

The force of the explosion throwing some of those machine people around, disrupting their suppressive fire.

"Nonomi, fire bursts! Shiroko, Serika, do as usual and disarm them!" Without a word, they moved in unison, with Nonomi's concentrated bursts stabilizing the recoil, hitting several of those automatons as I heard Hoshino refer those wrecks in the desert.

Sparks appearing as her bullets hit them just about everywhere in their body, knocking many out. Serika and Shiroko shooting off the weapons of whoever left that Nonomi missed before finishing them off.

As we advanced closer, Hoshino comes out from the side of a building, bringing down her gun as she saw us. "Aw, you beat me to it." She said lazily as she looked down, seeing the downed automatons.

"Wow... we beat them so easily." Serika spoke in awe, eyes glimmering as she held her gun higher and looked at our unconscious enemies... I hope they're just unconscious and not dead.

"Nn, it's Sensei's genius." Thanks Shiroko, but it was all thanks to Ayane's air support.

"Who are these people anyways? What are they even doing in the middle of the desert?" I have a feeling that we're about to find out, Nonomi.

"I've found the facility's insignia!" Ayane reported, with a tone of urgency and a little anger. "It's Kaiser PMC!" Of course it is... of course it fucking is! They have dipped their toes in just about every business there is, haven't they?!

A bank, a loan company, some other things, and now they have whatever a PMC is!

"Sensei... it's Private Military Company." Thanks Ayane... now they have a fucking army with them! Wait a minute.

"Are they legally allowed to have that?" I ask, realizing something that even my uneducated ass would know. "They can be labeled an invasion force... and then Rin can rain hell down on then." I can feel my lips stretching into a smile that no doubt looks devilish.

I look at the girls, widening their eyes at what I've just said. Shiroko... has that same smile she had when we robbed that bank. Hoshino looks... happy now that we have a possible solution for just about everything here in Abydos. Serika looks even more confident now, with Nonomi looking the same.

"That's great, but they're not like those thugs we've been fighting." Yeah, they were organized, well equipped, and they had better firing and coordination than even what the Prefect girls had. "Exactly, they looked super organized. Like an army." I had to stifle a laugh, letting out giggle at her words... I'm really back doing this thing again.

"Army... there were rumors of dropouts, expelled students, and just general troublemakers being recruited by a company... Is this..." Oh? Is that so, Nonomi?! Goddamnit!

I couldn't contain myself anymore and just let my laugh out, startling the girls as they saw and heard me acting deranged.

"I'm gonna be fighting an army again." I said at the end of my laugh whimpering, as I felt my eyes getting wet and a sinking feeling in my stomach came. "Yeah, should be easy enough." I said, imitating the breathing technique I learned from Lieutenant Pav, stabilizing my breath and returning my composure.

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

... Goddamnit. Those loud ass siren alarms coming from just about everywhere in this place! I feel...

This rumbling on the ground... fucking tanks! I hear some whirring on the air... goddamn, even helicopters!

"There's an army approaching. They're trying to surround you!" Of course they are, Ayane! The moment an encirclement happens, is the moment we die! "Retreat! Retreat now! Sensei, please lead them!" Naturally, what have I been doing this entire time, Ayane?!

"Alright, out that way!" I pointed at another entry exit point. And without hesitation, they all rush out with me following behind.

We see a small part of the obviously bigger army approaching. One tank and some personnel carriers in line formation... we won't outrun them...

"Shiroko, get your drone out and launch your explosives at the front!" I ordered out to her, as her white drone appeared in a blue flash.

It flew up and then waited until the Kaiser forces came closer... and it starts launching.

A swarm of those missiles rocketed through the front carrier and around it, blowing it up as it flipped upwards and on its head. The truck behind it crashed into it, with the others swerving out to the sides.

"Nonomi, light them up!"

And so, she sprayed those trucks as the barrels of her machine gun spun and ejected used casings, reaching several hundreds, making a pile at our feets in just seconds as her firing riddled the Kaiser troop carriers with bullets. It's engines started smoking, before bursting into flames.

"Wow... they were annihilated without even getting a shot off." Yeah, that's usually how us soldiers wanted the battles to be, Ayane. Speaking of which.

"Ayane, do you still have an armed drone?" There's still that tank slowly going towards us, and small arms fire isn't going through it.

"Uhmm, no." Damn it, they can and will shoot at us if we try to run past it. "Bro... thro... commu... cation... un... table... retreat... now." Cackled out our comms. Ayane's drones all dropping to the ground.

It's just us now. "Start running." I said, running closer to the tank in a diagonal to It's sides away from it's current line of fire. I hear the steps of the girls behind me, some scolding me for being reckless or something.

And sure enough, that tank was slowly turning its turret towards us, with the tracks moving the main body the same direction, the machinegun firing tracer rounds with each burst getting closer to us.

[Phase Step]

For a moment, I felt myself disappear and reappear closer to the tank, making my head spin a little. I ignore that, and keep running closer, the rapid machinegun fire getting louder, making my ears ring the closer I got as I reached my hand towards it.

[Red Arc]

From seemingly nowhere, a massive red lightning, louder and more powerful than the one I tested back in Schale basement, struck the tank like a hammer down to an anvil.

In the brief flash of the massive red thunder, the tank went from whole to completely and utterly obliterated. It was charred and smoldering where the spell hit, it's like a bite was taken out of it with the entire center and right side just gone. Hmm, there's no room for a crew and it's all just mechanisms. Interesting.

The headache that comes with casting spells... was surprisingly low with how powerful that red lightning was.

I turn around and run back to the Abydos girls, who are all staring in awe... this is the first time I've used an offensive spell in front of them, so I get why they're just looking. But seriously, now's not the time!

[Phase Step]

I blink in and out of sight, and quite possibly reality itself near them as I kept moving towards them.

"So cool... that was so cool." Serika is completely awestruck at what she's just witnessed.

"Nn, he can teleport... it'll be a piece of cake making a get away if I could..." Shiroko... you already have the small things amulet, and the white angel rune... actually, why didn't you bring those with you? "It's in my bag, I'm not using it yet." Well put it on, now!

She rummages through her bag, pulling those necklaces out and putting it on. Good.

"I thought you said you didn't have teleportation magic?" I just learned it yesterday, Hoshino. "Is that so? Can you also teach this old man? I won't have to move as much!" Why... do you look so energetic being lazy? Sure, come with me to Trinity later.

"No way! Hoshino's already lazy enough!" That's right Serika... but incase you girls just forgot, we're still running away from Kaiser's forces! Do you all have the attention span of a fish or something?! Keep running!

"R-right!" Serika stuttered out, about to turn around and keep running along with the others until...

We heard the whirring of several helicopters in the air, flying closer to us with their ground forces moving around us... about to encircle us.

[Moth Swarm]

A group, no, an army of blue moths flew out of my shadow as I felt a tugging in my mind. The swarm flew higher and faster up to the helicopters level... maybe I can lodge up the exhaust or the mechanism of the blade, if that doesn't do the trick then I can try harassing the pilot.

I seperate them into two groups, commanding one to harass the pilot of one chopper, and the other to clog up the engine or blades of another helicopter.

The one with the pilot being harassed starts spinning and lowering in altitude. The other one trying to clog up anothers mechanisms... is instead disintegrating? no, eating the engine from the inside and out.

It's spinning blade flinging itself up as it was separated from the body, which promptly just fell a long way down to the ground, and eventually landing with such force that it was flattened as it hit the ground, throwing up sand as it it were a body of water.

The other helicopters started flying back and away, definitely because their pilots didn't want to end up like the guy who was flattened. Good, that's a bunch of problems less for us.

"Sensei... we're surrounded." I can see that, Hoshino. I felt my mouth speaking the words I thought as I ordered the moths back to my side.

I see some armored carriers with machineguns and a few tanks. The automaton infantry dismounted when I wasn't looking, walking in formation and caution closer to us... encircling us... I count at least a hundred of those walking scraps.

I wave my hand, sending out the moths to meet then as they advanced, and sure enough, they back away in caution as they pointed their rifles at it... yet still disciplined, not spraying the swarms as it flew closer.

"They're cowering... they're afraid of Levi-Sensei alone." Shiroko is gushing with an almost neutral tone and expression, but her eyes show her admiration as it glimmered.

"Impressive... I knew it was limited in its use yet still a game changer, but to actually hold off an army by oneself..." Nonomi... genuinely made me think she's only ever cheerful with how she always acted... so I'm amazed that she's analyzed the spells I've so far used that much.

"Yeah... but what now?" Serika asked in a hopeless tone as she frantically turn around, only seeing more of the opposing force as she looked for a way out. "It's like a mexican standoff." I don't know what a mexican is, but yes it's a standoff.

I wonder... they're all machines... right? Reila... as the Machine God, or at least being a part of it... can you do something about them?

" Sure... but not because you asked. I'm doing it for the little girls. " Good enough, thanks Reila. " At the age they are... they shouldn't be working to pay off a debt that was never theirs in the first place, much less having to fight off an invasion." Exactly... we're gonna put the fear of a god in these shits.

Hmm, I see a really fancy car going towards us, ignoring the swarm of blue moths as it passed through it.

It stopped as it reached near us, the backseat doors opened up and then out came a black, grey, and orange machine man with a fancy business suit.

"I was wondering who the intruders would be." The blocky machine man in a suit spoke, his grainy voice coming out as if from a radio. "So it was Abydos." Does he really think stating the obvious makes him sound scary?

[Phase Step]

There's practically no drawbacks casting this spell as long as I have this Betel ring, but the nausea of it is a little annoying. But anyway, I'm face to face with this guy, who got startled as I blinked straight up his face, immediately breaking whatever image of intimidation he had.

"You're supposed to be a machine, right? Why are you so fat then?" For some reason, the girls looked afraid of this asshole. The fastest way to undo that, is to simply start making fun of this blockhead.

"M-my, my. The Sensei of Schale, I would have thought you had manners befitting of an adult." I'm actually impressed that he managed to recover his composure. "You're the ones who intruded and destroyed costly equipment, yet you're the ones who will be playing the victim." Once again this day, I feel my lips stretching into a grin, giggling as I took in his words.

[Intimidation]

"You think that'll matter once I smite you like I did that tank?" I say, bobbing my head to where the tank that I obliterated was. He turns his head slightly to look, before turning back to me.

"You... you won't do that. My forces have you surrounded, if I perish then you will be destroyed as well. It's mutually assured destruction." This guy... hehehe, it's not much but he's not that much of a coward. Even without a human face, I can still see that he's scared at how deranged I probably look laughing.

"You're right..." I tell him, somehow I can feel that he's relieved. I hear the girls concerned voices behind me. "But not because I don't want to die, but because I'm not a deranged murderer." He's actually standing his ground... good, then I wont feel too bad sawing your limbs off.

I saw him flinch... for once, I thank my thought to speech brain damage that Rher, probably, gave me.

"You're insane... why would the GSC President even consider hiring you?" Hmm, now that I think about it... I absolutely fooled her with how pitiful I looked... damnit, I'm actually a deviant, giggling at the thought. "... Is that so? I can't fathom why Gematria, particularly Black Suit would be so obsessed with you... he might be a wonderful business partner, but I don't see eye to eye with him about you." Interesting... that's an interesting name.

"Nevermind that, who are you anyways?" It's only proper that we introduce ourselves, right? Like proper grown ups.

"I am the Chief Executive of Kaiser Corporation. In other words, I'm the one Abydos owes a debt to, their creditor if you will." Good... that's great! I just need to hammer him down to scraps, and then problem solved! "... I think it would be much better if we discussed inside the base." Yeah you're right, I can feel the heat getting into my head. Add to that a hand itchy to cast explosions, and... yeah, you can see how bad that would be.

"... Yes, I'm relieved to know you can actually be negotiated with."

Reila... save whatever you're doing for later, prepare it like a land mine. He probably has information that we'll need about whatever that Gematria it... and that Black Suit guy who he said was obsessed with me.

/

"You break into someone's private property, attack innocent Kaiser PMC employees, and have the audacity place the blame on me?" Goddamnit, I actually laughed out loud as the fat guy rebutted all of my students allegations. I hate to say it... but he's right... technically speaking.

"It sucks but he's right." I say, my laughter stopping as I glared at him. My students... they're looking at me as if I just stabbed them in the back.

It feels weird... yet right to call them my students. But moving on.

"Correct... first impressions were horrendous, but it's good news that you actually have some sense." Is that supposed to be praise or insult? "Yes, I purchased the land from the past Abydos Student Council. I have the proof of those transactions being legal." That's actually impressive. Here in Kivotos, even criminals can find ways to make things legal.

"It's distasteful that we're being treated as if we were criminals." You kind of are, fat man. "But did you even wonder why we're doing all of this?"

"Sensei said you're probably looking for something under the land." Shiroko said with a tone of repressed anger.

"That's accurate! How did you know?" He raised his voice in genuine surprise and curiosity. "But yes, we're looking for a treasure somewhere in Abydos." I... wait, what? That sounds...

"Treasure...?" He probably doesn't mean a buried chest of gold, but yes, Ayane... it's retarded.

"And I thought we were the kids here." I muttered out with a giggle. I mean, what is he? Some pixie giving Rondoner kids magical dust that makes them fly?

"Yeah! That's just a straight up lie!" Well... maybe it's the same kind of "treasure" you bought, Serika. "The magical stuff?" Yeah, that's it.

"You were alluding to me acting like a child, yet... actually, I can see how that makes more sense than how I worded my intentions." He muttered out after a pause.

"Nevermind that, how do you explain all of these troops?" Shiroko spoke, a rare audible and visual expression of annoyance. "What other reason would you have them if not an invasion?" No, no, Shiroko. That's for when shit hits the fan for them.

"That's a crude way to describe it, but yes." The Fat Robo- no, the Kaiser Executive confirmed in an almost sincere tone. "Thousands of tanks, and other such vehicles. A similar number of elite troops, tens- no, hundreds of thousands of ammunition." My students show distress as he let them take a peak of what he has under his sleeve.

"If you think I'm amassing such a force just for a ruined school with only five students left, then you're living in a fantasy." He said, taking out an expensive looking cig out of a box... and smoking it... how the hell is he smoking it? He has no mouth! Hmm, he's offering one to me...

"Thanks, I guess... only officers and commanders ever got these." I said as I felt the effects of that tobacco he offered me. The girls are looking at me in concern and worry, probably because of how well I seem to get along with this guy. "You were trying to scare my students... but you only gave me an idea of how much bodies you can throw at us." I told him, blowing out the smoke from the cig. He tilts his head, no doubt curious as to what I'm trying to convey.

"Bodies? That's a... disturbing way of referring to people." Despite him being the asshole here, it's like I'm the one who's even worse.

"Yeah, that is weird..." Serika spoke in an unnerved tone.

"Wait, the tactics he's been using... the way he acts and speaks... talking about trenches..." Nonomi, the one I least expected to be a detective all this time... just connected some dots. "And that uniform he wore in his first appearance... Sensei, were you a soldier?" ...

"Oh yeah... Master Shiba said he acted like a military man... could it be-?!" ... It was tempting to shout at Ayane to shut up for a moment there. But even then... it would be obvious...

After all, what do soldiers do when they're deployed into trenches?

"No!" Hoshino interrupted Nonomi from sharing what she just figured out... but the other three girls already figured out what she was trying to say. "If he doesn't want to talk about it, then don't force him!" Heh...heh. I think it's obvious enough... what I've been doing back there... in the trenches.

"So you were a soldier... how would you li- no, I doubt you would even consider that." The Executive spoke, blowing out smoke from his cig as he finished speaking. "Like I was going to say, this private army are for security reasons. If I wanted to bring you down, then..." He trailed off, taking out a phone and calling someone. He simply said proceed.

That's a phone ringing, I can hear it in our communication devices... back in the meeting room with Ayane, who rushes to pick it up. Alright... let's hear what the fat fuck just did.

"What?! But why so suddenly?!" Ayane screamed out in disbelief and despair as she listened on. "300 million... by next week?!" As the girls despaired... that pig of a machine is laughing... does the sight of school kids in distress pleasure you? That's just sick...

The Bremen soldiers didn't laugh when they managed to kill conscripted boys like me... the officers and commanders I served under didn't laugh when they sent us boys to our deaths, none of them took pleasure in making kids like us suffer and die... what's so funny huh, Fat Man? Not even the Bremens with all the mass killings and defilings they did to civilians, laughed like you just did after everytime they plundered a city...

"You... you're just... making that up." Where is it? Where's that arrogant laugh you had just a second ago? Let it out so I can add you to my confirmed kill count. Come on you bastard, do it.

"Sensei... you... aren't making those up... are you?" Ayane... of course I'm not... I just need to take this fuckers head off, and everything will be just fine.

"He... h-he's not j-just saying it... that's the f-first solution he gave... when we found out Kaiser t-took the l-land." Serika trembled as she stuttered out. That Executive guy, along with his goons all took a step back as they heard Serika's words... I can see some are trembling as they brought their guns up at me.

[Killing Intent] [Intimidation] [Diplomacy] [Persuasion]

"Now, now. Let us all remain as civilized people and... not kill eachother like we're back in the dark ages." I somehow managed to force myself under control, the speech skills of Miss Karin and the threatening aura of Mister Marcoh taking over for me. "Not yet at least."

I... I'm supposed to be a teacher, a grown up compared to these kids... I need to act like it... I need to be an example for them. Like they, Miss Abella, Miss Karin, Mister Marcoh, Doctor Daan, did for me.

I make gestures that enhanced the effects of my attempt at talking things out... while making sure I still had a half deranged tone of voice as I uttered that backhanded threat. The Executives underlings... they're lowering their guns slowly in caution.

Ayane sounds relieved that I talked things out, same with the other four girls with me, yet still nervous about something. "That's great... but the debt! We won't be able to afford 300 million by this week! We ha-" Don't worry about that, Ayane.

"You aren't paying any of that, Ayane." I said while still glaring at that chunky walking scrap metal on a fancy suit. "This is the pretense thing I was talking about earlier... he never wanted you girls to pay off the debt." The four students with me... they're looking at me with eyes widened in despair, yet still anticipating a solution out of me.

Heh... hehe. Don't worry about it.

"They were planning on invading anyways... actually, they've definitely been itching to invade over the years with all of those fancy toys that they have." I spoke as I felt my face morphed to an insane looking grin, the same that Needles had, and of fury. "I've been there... I've done that." As much as I want to say I hated every single moment I was there... I didn't immediately desert at the several chances I got over the years.

"He's right... you should just drop out or transfer somewhere else, the debt wasn't even yours to begin with." Oh how nice of you to give these poor girls the chance to runaway before you try to run them all over. "Add to the fact that he's right... I would've rebutted that accusation... but you're right, I will be trampling you worms down soon enough." He said, almost sounding happy as he blew out the smoke of his cig.

"You look no older than these girls, so it would be safe to assume you only have less than a year worth of training or combat." What the hell is he gloating and laughing on about? "With what little expertise you have for someone so young, you think you have what it takes to even withstand my forces?" Oh... I'm actually surprised that he can't fathom the thought of... all that... kids barely even reaching the double digits in age having to fight.

"Well, that's one redeeming quality you have." He stops his laugh, no doubt confused with how he tilted his head. "Sorry to disappoint, but I've been killing adults like you for the past five years of my life." I said with a little sigh... the way my girls are looking at me... yeah. Both him, his goons, and my students freeze as they looked at me.

"All able bodied males must serve... is what they said." Somehow... I'm not feeling too bad about letting them, the Abydos girls know about my past. Is it because I trust them? Is it because I want to be told... that I did nothing wrong? "But nevermind that. Girls, we're leaving, there's nothing more to talk about." If you four are going to stare like that, then do it back at the school.

"B-but Sensei... the debt." Serika nervously spoke to me.

"Yes... we co-" Nonomi, I appreciate your optimism... but the fatty isn't changing his mind.

"No." I interrupted whatever she was going to say as I walked towards the exit. "Come on, we're going back to Abydos... we need to start fortifying." I see them freezing and flinching at my cold empty voice before forcing themselves to start walking with me. Hoshino's looking back at the opposing force as she walked.

Oh, and one more thing.

As the girls passed me, I turned around to face that Executive, surrounded by his men. "Kaiser Executive, Kaiser PMC employees... you will attack Abydos tomorrow, right?" As I spoke, I see the Executive putting a hand over his mouth to cover what is probably a giggle. "I will reduce your investments in weapons, materiel, and time in training into ashes." The guy stops his giggling, taking his hand off his face and looking at me.

"It would be wise to not pick a fight you cannot win, Teacher Boy of Schale." Little to no fear, huh? That will change soon, for certain.

"I will put the fear of the Machine God in you." He, along with his soldiers flinched again as they took a step back. I can sense confusion and slight fear in them despite having nothing to express it. "I mean that literally." And with that, I turned to walk away again, not even bothering to see or hear the automatons as I faced away from them.

The four are staring at me as we walked, in confusion? Worry? Those kinds of things.

/

"What the hell do we do now?!" Serika screamed out, in a mixture of anger and a whimper. "What was with that, Sensei?! You just goaded them to attack us!" She yelled in an accusing way.

"They want to invade anyways anyways... it was only a matter of time." Right before the second great war started, both the E.U and Rondon governments tried so badly to stop the Bremens... by throwing smaller countries down under the bus... and just a few months later, we were being mobilized. "What is there to speak about? We need to-"

"But Sensei, you were right about there being something under Abydos that they're looking for." Nonomi interrupted me, with a tone of worry and a hint of hope. "And it's something good enough that they would go through all this. Maybe we co-" I said it once, I'll say it again.

"They would still be invading regardless, they already have bases full of logistics and supplies, vehicles, weapons, men, and just about everything else stationed here in Abydos." She, along with the others, are looked at me hopelessly as I explained. With Hoshino just staring ... in an almost pleading way.

"But Sensei..." Ayane looks and sounds like she's about to weep, looking at me with watery eyes. "You might be an expert in brutal warfare... but they... they..." I see. Yeah, facing an entire professional army would be naturally scary for normal schoolchildren.

"I know, I've been fighting the same kind of army... even before I was your age, Ayane." If I remember reading correctly, Ayane is still 15 years old so I understand why she's looking at me like she is. "I was given my own squad to fight Bremens in bunkers, trenches, in cities and towns, even when outnumbered and outgunned." As I spoke, they widened their eyes. The first line in horror, then the second making them put on expressions of admiration and astonishment.

Except Hoshino... because of course, I kind of told her a lot when I was drunk... like how I led my squad to their deaths... the Bremen atrocities that was basically unimaginable at the scale they committed. They know that I killed adults... yet, I don't think it's sinking in for them how dire killing is, given the protection that their haloes give them and the rest of Kivotos.

"You think... we can fight that kind of army by ourselves? We're just highschool girls, Levi-Sensei." Seriously, Hoshino's been speaking in a weak tone ever since our scuffle and ever since you disappeared and came in late when those Prefect girls attacked. Where was all of that willpower I saw in you?! "I get it... but resorting to physical force this quickly, that... shouldn't be the way." She said somberly as she looked to the ground, sounding like she's almost whimpering.

"Like I said, Hoshino... there's turning the other cheek, then there's letting yourself be stomped down." I said to Hoshino, moving to her side and putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's about time you fought back." She raises her head, and then straightens her back at my words, looking at me... almost like she's admiring me like her juniors are doing.

"And besides... an army is easier to dismantle and obliterate than you think. Even with just us." Those automaton soldiers were well organized and disciplined, but the tactics and formations they were using were just basics.

"Nn, yeah. It's about time we drove them off!" Shiroko sounds eager for violence as usual, even with how she has an almost neutral tone and expression basically all the time.

"Yeah... I can't believe that people like that would even exist." Serika said in whimpers, an annoyed furious expression in her face. "But if they're gonna attack anyways, then so be it!" She said, inspecting her rifle as she spoke.

"Not you too! Can we really take them head on?" Don't worry Nonomi... Hina and I have a deal, she'll come to help. "Really? That's good I suppose."

"Nonomi, even you?! But... but... this... isn't the way." Ayane... you're a good girl. Always looking out for your friends, always pulling their on their leash and disciplining them if you need.

Ayane is the only one still trying to argue for a peaceful solution, the rest look prepared to take Kaiser on with the exception of Hoshino... who has a face defeat on her.

"Ayane... appeasement won't work with them." I told her, making her shut her mouth and look at me with a fearful expression. "And yes, you won't even be slowing them down... not without preparations at least." Looks like she gave up, looking down and nodding in agreement with me.

"Which is why we need to start fortifying and planting traps, shaping the upcoming battle to our favor." As I spoke, I saw my students putting on brave determined expressions as the listened. "Take the money you were gonna use for the monthly payments, and start hiring some of those part timers." And so, Ayane, Serika, Shiroko, and Nonomi all nodded before leaving to do just that.

Now, it's just Hoshino and I in this room.

/

Hoshino P.O.V

"So, Hoshino... you mind explaining this?" Levi-Sensei asked me with a stern tone of voice, pulling out... is that the letter of resignation I wrote?! That startled, surprised, even flabbergasted me. "Shiroko snatched it out of your bag... or so she said." Really now, Shiroko?! Betraying your own senpai like that!

You didn't teach her that, did you, Sensei? ... Well? No answer? Are you doing that plead the fifth thing? Wait, is he... not reading my mind?

"You aren't reading my mind?" I asked in a lazy, yawney tone of voice as I closed my eyes and rested my head on the table cushioned by my arms. "And you didn't teach Shiroko how to pickpocket, did you? She's gonna end up as a super villain that way." Yeah, she's already so eager talking about robbing banks. Even back when she was in first year, she was already obsessed with theft and looting

"No... you're hiding something... and I want to hear it out of your mouth, not in your thoughts." So he said, putting the letter down the table as I opened my eyes to look at him. "And yeah, I'll talk to her about it later... but first, I'm talking to you here." Hey, hey. Stop looking at me like that, you're scary when you're like that.

But sure, I'll talk. "Can we take a walk first?" I asked as I faced him, slowly standing up from the seat and.

"Sure, lead the way." And so, I grabbed Levi by his loose left sleeve and walked out the door... I didn't want any lewd handholding.

And so, I pulled him with me gently as I walked. Through the hallways, down the stairs.

And finally, we're back here i-

My throat got suddenly itchy, forcing me into coughs as I tried to clear my throat. Right, sand was piling up on this part of the building.

"You couldn't even clean up the place." Levi said, disappointment and pity present in his tone of voice... he's supposed to be the pitiful one here... I feel even more pathetic now. "So, what is it about this place that you like so much? Why do you call it your home?" Now where'd that come from? First, he's trash talking this part of the school, then he starts talking profoundly of it.

"I heard that this school used to one of the biggest, rivaling even Trinity and Gehenna." That's just giving me a whiplash, insulting the school and then praising it to high heavens. "You also said that the actual main building is buried in sand?" I did? Oh yeah I did... now where do I even start?

"Yeah, I heard that this school was the most prestigious before the desertification... yet everything was a mess and nothing worked out when I got here." Yeah, the problems piling up was overwhelming... add to the fact that I was an angsty little one with short a temper... I got too hard on Yume-Senpai at one point... "The actual school from way bach then has long since been under, and the upperclassmen I followed already transferred." Not that I was in contact with most of them long enough to get close outside of Yume.

"But... I wouldn't have met Shiroko, Nonomi, Serika, and Ayane had I not stayed here." Yeah... my dear juniors are the only reason I could keep on going, persisting. "So yeah, I guess I am kind of attached to this place." And she- Yume-Senpai is still here... I can't leave her alone, by herself here.

I can't help but let out a small laugh. I mean, just a few days ago we tried to beat the life out of eachother. Yet now... I'm trusting Levi enough to show this side of me.

"Is that all? You all could've migrated elsewhere together." It's a relief to know that Levi didn't read my thoughts about Yume-Senpai. But moving on... yeah, we could probably do that, but Yume is still here.

... Damnit! He was right... I am dragging my dear juniors down with me! I guess I shouldn't have judged him as I did back then, when he talked about his own squad. He's looking at me intently, waiting for an answer out of me.

"I'll be honest with you." I said, going back to what I was hiding that he wanted to talk to me about. I'm... I'm the one with a halo protecting me, yet Levi-Sensei... he's resolute. He was able to tell the painful truth of what happened to his squad. He was drunk, but still... and I can't bring myself to talk about my own secrets.

"I've been getting some offers from shady people from the past two years." I spoke, immediately getting his full attention. "It was more like recruiting, I think it was for Kaiser PMC." No reactions from him, just a cold expression that's somewhat unnerving.

"Half of the debt immediately being erased just by enlisti-"

"If you were being offered that much, then you could've asked for all of it." He cut me off, giving me an advice I could have used when I got the offer. I froze at what he said... yeah, I could've done that. Well, he's a teacher after all "You'd be surprised by how easy it is to persuade or ask someone for that kind of thing. It wouldn't be guaranteed, but it's still worth a try." Hmm, he said he didn't have proper schooling, and he spent the past five years of his life fighting... how does he know so much? Is he from the kind of place where apprenticeships and the trades were more common than schools?

"That fat guy offered it to you?" Hehehe, yeah. The Kaiser Executive was kind of fat, wasn't he?

"No, it was some guy I'm calling Black Suit." The image of the person of an otherworldly black in a formal suit flashed into my mind, offering me the contract to be signed. "I haven't seen anything like him, it gave me the creeps just looking at him." Yeah, even now I can feel the chills just thinking about him.

"Suspicious as he was, he didn't cause any trouble. And for some reason, the Kaiser Executive is afraid of him." Levi-Sensei... if he's going to figure something out, then he needs all the info I can give

Eh? Is Levi... stifling a laugh? He takes a few steps away before making a flamboyant pose, his hand on his chin.

"A peak to grandeur and a chance to reach for the illustrious heights, those are gifts only offered to a select few." He sounds like he's imitating something or acting out a play... wait a minute! "If you wish to continue down this path of chaos, as the Champion of Termina, you are given the privilege of joining us as equals." It's almost exactly like how Black Suit spoke... the voice he tried to imitate... he giggled at the last syllable.

He hasn't met Black Suit yet, right? And Champion of Termina? What is that all about? How does he know how Black Suit speaks?!

"Let me guess. He spoke like that, didn't he?" Levi's giggling smile from just a second ago is gone, replaced by a frown and a glare. "Those kinds of assholes... they're sincere in what they do and say... but are still assholes, as you will find out if you aren't careful." I see... so that means... Black Suits offer is genuine then.

"It's like the Sulfur cult using the Moon God's festival." He groaned in annoyance, resting his back against the wall and sliding his hand across his face. Interesting... followers of a god taking part in anothers rituals, it's like adultery now that I imagine it.

But yeah, his experiences is what gave us an accurate assumption on what Kaiser wanted in Abydos. Perhaps he can find a way ou... no, it's about time I start pulling my weight.

"Nevermind that, what is this about?" He said, bringing up that resignation letter. You know what, I walk closer to him, taking the letter by my hands and then throwing it down a trash can conveniently placed just beside where we're standing.

"There, no more problem." I half spoke, half yawned with a probably goofy look. "I know I shouldn't hide secrets from my juniors... but Levi-Sensei, you're also keeping secrets... even with how much you've told us so far, I can still tell you have a lot in your bag." Five years is a long time, and each day, week, month is agonizingly slow to pass. I can't even imagine the rest of his travesty of a life is like.

I mean, the kind of misery he made the place and experiences he had and came from is... just comically wretched.

"Yeah, just make sure to let your friends know. You can't keep doing things by yourself." Levi's... Levi genuinely sounds like a teacher now, I feel like I can trust him with my life. But still, I don't know how to go about doing that. "Just speak up... Miss Abella just asked me if I was fine... she kept telling me to speak up, that she wants to know how to help me. I'm sure you're friends would want nothing more than for you to do just that." Is that so? This Miss Abella... she must've been reliable and caring to still be in your head, probably pretty too.

"I'll try, anything can happen after all. Even miracles." Yeah, I shouldn't make him worry. Specially since he went through the effort to get me to speak up and didn't read my mind... at least I think he didn't.

/

Ayane P.O.V

The part timers in hard hats and pink coverall uniforms that we called for, numbering at least 50 by my count, arrived surprisingly quickly, talking about how they would do any job for the amount we offered. They say more are on the way, that's great I suppose.

We had plenty of time and resources to prepare and build trenches as Levi-Sensei said, but... where do we even start? We don't have the same expertise he have, much less of anything strategy related to base on.

That sound? I turn to look at the second floor level of the school opened, with Levi-Sensei standing on the edges about to-

Aaagh! I took a step back and tipped down to my butt, as Levi-Sensei spontaneously disappeared from the second floor and then appeared right infront of me.

"Whoa! He can teleport!"

"That's awesome! We can save more if we had that, we wouldn't need to commute anymore!"

"You think we can ask for that magic as payment!" The part timers all gushed on about Levi-Sensei... thankfully, they haven't payed attention to my humiliating reaction and current position.

"S-sensei, that startled me!" I screamed- no, whined at him loudly as I felt a pout make it's way into my face. "Please, never do that again!" Yes, it's embarrassing!

"What took you? And where's Hoshino?" Serika-chan to my side asked, looking at him with narrowed eyes yet with a hint of wonder at his teleportation. "Is she sleeping again?" Most likely.

I push myself up, patting my under sides to force off any sand or dust that stuck. "Anyways, can you give us directions on how we're building fortifications and where to plant traps?" I said, motioning to the map on a nearby table.

Without a word, he walked towards the table with the map and examined it. Then started pointing out places and then giving us instructions on what to build on it, or where to plant traps of specific kinds. Just riddle the place with anti tank mines, he says.

"We don't even need to make trenches, we can just reinforce the insides of buildings and use those as cover. Also, poke holes big enough to fit guns through so we can shoot with being shot at if needed." So simple, yet so efficient... I suppose that's what five years of being part of a professional armed force is like. "storage ammunition for Nonomi's machinegun, and missiles and munitions for your drones and Shiroko's, and a while lot of drones you can switch to if one is rearming, in the buildings near here." He said, pointing to near the district square.

"Why there?" I ask, wondering why he's been focusing on that part of the map so far.

"Ayane..." What's with that deadpan stare?! "That aligns with where their base is." Oh... I suppose... it would only make sense that they would be coming from there.

"Also, can you buy more of those drones for bombing, Ayane?" He asked, tilting his head to me. To his request, I eagerly nod my head. "Good, make sure to buy a lot." He said with a smile.

"Anyway, those buildings are uninhabited, so break some holes and make pathways for retreating and mobility in between the buildings we're gonna be using for cover." Somehow, I'm starting to imagine how the Kaiser PMC forces will be halted in their steps with all of these seemingly simple yet effective preparations.

The buildings will be reinforced to withstand tank cannons, and they won't be able to conduct effective return fire when my schoolmates on the ground are shooting through peeking holes. And the amount of bombings I could do with my drones... coupled with a lot more to come... it's gonna be like that movie, Midway, if I remember the name correctly.

I think that was a historical film from outside of Kivotos, so a lot of the context was lost to me.

"Anyway, I need to go somewhere." He said right after giving us the instructions we need. Seriously? But we need you here! "Oh, and one more thing." Alright, what is he gonna do this time?

He walks towards one of the part timers waiting for us to give out orders, who notices him walking towards her, taking a step back nervously as he got closer. Dragging his right sleeve up to his elbow with his teeth

He reaches for her utility belt, near the steel saw... and dragged his wrist on it! Why?! The poor part timer yelping as she jumped back to avoid the blood dripping and staining her uniform.

Levi-Sensei is... blood letting? Is this some kind of ritual for luck? If it is, then that's completely unnecessary! Barbaric even! A small puddle of blood has formed underneath his feet.

He then started whispering, and a light purple aura appears and cover the cut on his wrist, stitching the open wound close. Followed by him bringing his sleeve back down.

"Oh, you're summoning that skinless guy... I've been wanting to apologize to him." Serika-chan said with a sad, regretful tone. What is she ta- wait, the others were screaming about him bleeding during our rescue of Serika-chan.

"Nn, those Kaiser goons won't see Mr. Blood Golem coming." Mr. Who no-

My thoughts are interrupted as like out of a horror movie, a muscular hand came out of the puddle of blood. I, along with the part timers scream pathetically as a skinless man climbed out of the blood puddle. It looks like a human anatomy model, but meaty!

I see Serika-chan rushing to that skinless figures front. "Mr. Blood Golem, I apologize for screaming at you back then!" She apologized loudly with a bow. To which the skinless man hesitantly put a hand over her shoulder, rubbing it in a reassuring way. "Y-you aren't mad at me?" Asked Serika-chan, looking up with pleading eyes... and the red flesh man just gave her a thumbs up, eliciting a smile of relief from her.

"Long time no see, Mr. Blood Golem!" Nonomi-Senpai cheerfully greeted with a smile and a wave, to which it reciprocated... only the wave as it had no mouth.

"Nn, Ayane, meet Mr. Blood Golem." Shiroko-Senpai said as she gestured toward Mr. Blood Golem.

"Anyway, the Blood Golem will know what to do if you forget any of my instructions. Just give him a pen and paper. Anyways, I need to go for now." And with that, he walked towards the portal to other academies. Disappearing in a red and black flash as he stepped on the tile.

... It's magic... I'm not going to question it.

/

Iori P.O.V

"You think you can just waltz in here for a chat with Chairwoman Hina?" I ask in a low voice of contempt, glaring at Levi of Prehevil as the Acting President has been calling him with narrowed eyes. After all... with how casual he spoke to President Hina, and how he called Ako... that provocative word, I can't trust him around Gehenna.

"Tell you what. If you got on all fou- I mean three's, and licked my boot-" I stopped as I was startled. He just teleported infront of me, the flesh in the carved symbol glinting pink as I saw it.

I tried to back away, yet somehow in just a split second, he's already taken off my right boot. Is he some kind of master pickpocket?! It's like those videogames where you can hide behind a nothing and still not be seen if you're points are all in stealth.

He pulls on my bare leg, forcing me off both of us down the ground. Then... he brought his tongue out, a devious smirk in his face. His slimy wet tongue made contact with my thighs, followed by an upwards motion of his head, spreading the feeling of his wet, slimy, disgusting tongue and saliva.

"Ahh, I've been wanting that since I first saw you." He said, looking at me with giddy eyes and a wide smile. "After the shit day I've been having, this was a relief... thank you, Lady Iori." Why did I blush at him calling me a lady?! Why do I feel my heart beating faster?! But... he genuinely looks happy, almost in tears... as much as I hate him for what he made Chinatsu do, I still felt pity everytime I looked at him.

But regardless of that. "I haven't even finished speaking yet!" I shouted at him, yanking my leg back and standing back up, taking back my boot that he somehow snatched so easily. "Without hesitation as well. I know life must've been hard where you're from, but don't you have the slightest sense of human dignity? Or are you just a pervert?" I ask, genuinely concerned for his wellbeing.

"That's been long gone in Prehevil even before I was born." Sensei said with an obviously self deprecating laugh. Hmm, I can see why Chinatsu worries so much about him. "But yeah, I know well enough how to act properly if need be." He said, adjusting his I.D clipped to his breast pocket and tucking back in his buttoned shirt, yet still staying down.

"But yeah, I admit. I've been longing for your thighs a lot... so it's kind of both." Alright, he's a little demented.

"Oh, Levi-Sensei, you're here?" That voice?! Head Prefect Hina?! Why didn't I see or hear her coming?! "I've seen many grovelling for themselves... but this is the first time I've seen a teacher do so for his student, even if you two are close in age." Why does she seem impressed?! Did she not see how he assaulted me?!

"Raise your head, Sensei. And tell me what you need." Oh yeah... they had a deal, didn't they? Chairwoman Hina wanted to learn magic from him... hopefully not the same way Chinatsu did.

Other than that teleportation magic he just used on me, I haven't seen any spells he has so far used that I would want. Even then, I'm already fast as a bullet, my duel with that wolf girl from Abydos proves that. Wait, why is he nodding to me? Oh right, mind reading... wait, get the hell out of my head!

He turns back to President Hina after nodding once again to me. "It's time, bring that Ibuki kid Chinatsu talked about. You two are getting magic." At Sensei's words, I see President Hina's eyes glimmering with an expression of childlike awe. Seeing President Hina like this... is kind of uncanny. "Also, can I lick Iori one last time?" ... And I was so close to forgetting about that absolutely degenerate thing he did to me.

I was about to tell President Hina myself about that, but I'm somewhat thankful that he reported himself.

As expected, President Hina blushed with a flabbergasted expression. Jaws dropped as far as she physically could.

"Oh, and Arona. Can you call Hifumi, I need to tell her something." Hmm, calling up girls left and right like that... he's a boy after all, of course he'd be like that. "Also, ring Hasumi up will you." Seriously, just pick one and be happy you pervert!

/

Mika P.O.V

Just moments ago, I was eavesdropping to Nagi-chan listening to her little friends report. I get why she'd be worried about a PMC or whatever, but what I don't get is why she's worried about the treaty with those absolutely disgusting, repulsive filth in Gehenna.

Just thinking about those so called people is enough to almost make me puke my guts out... but I'm stronger than that, those Gehenners think they can get into my head... they never will.

But nevermind that, Nagi-chan was so nice to that Hifumi girl. Even going out of her way to promise artillery strikes for her and her friends at that desert wasteland Abydos.

Looking down at the beauty that is Trinity from way up here, close to the highest tip of the Sisterhoods home, the Cathedral. I feel giddy at the thought that they... will be walking alongside other Trinity students without anything going wrong.

I just have to wait a little more. When the time for the Eden treaty comes, my good friends over at Arius will finally strike out of the shadows. And finally bring down-

I couldn't contain a gasp as I saw that Teacher from that Schale thing come out of the portal. This is great! Nagi-chan will want to hear this! After all, we can finally in... vite... him... over...

... Why?

Why are there three Gehenners walking by his side? Defiling and dirtying the sacred holy grounds of Trinity at every revolting step they took. How dare they? They already got into his head, didn't they? Even the Sisterhood?! Head Sister Sakurako, and the rest of the Sisterhood are welcoming them with open arms and smiles!

And the Justice Task Force... Vice President Hasumi?! She's leading those innocent little ones! She-! They're escorting those vile Gehenners! Vice President Hasumi... she was the one who always warned pure Trinity students about the dangers of Gehenna students... to see her fall of like this! To see her walking alongside those filth! To see her even smiling as she chatted with them!

Unbelievable! Unacceptable! The treaty... won't it be completed faster if the Sisterhood and the JTF convinced a lot of innocent Trinity students that those mongoloid Gehenners are even remotely civilized? Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!

Those rotten! Disgusting! Repulsive Gehenners! How dare they step foot in rightful Trinity land! Don't be fooled by that blonde haired Gehenner nurses beauty! That innocent kindergarten looking little one with an oversized coat! And certainly not that horned, purple winged demon! They're just using you!

"Mika... what in the world are you rambling on about?" Eh... I turn to look at Nagi-chan from the other side of the table, frozen as she held her hand above the chess board, looking at me... as if I were a deranged psychopath.

Oh no... Nagi-chan... isn't mad at me, is she?

/

Hina P.O.V

Why do I feel like someone is cursing at me? I mean, this is Trinity so that should be a given considering the fact that I'm a Gehenna student. But that one specific feeling is kind of over exaggerated.

Little Ibuki, the mascot of Pandemonium is happily frolicking and giggling as she moved alongside me, not knowing how much these two academies despise eachother. With Levi-Sensei and Chinatsu at our front, and a small squad of Justice Task Force members led by the Vice President of said organization herself, Hanekawa Hasumi.

Now that I see them upfront, the common JTF members kind of look like the common Prefect members with the simple uniform, the hats, the hair covering their eyes.

But nevermind that, it's surprising how much Chinatsu and the JTF Vice President are getting along so well. I heard that she was one of the most hateful of Gehenna in the entirety of Trinity.

"I'm will not lie, I thought that any and all Gehenna students were nothing but troublemakers and delinquents prior to meeting you." Hanekawa Hasumi spoke in a sincere, apologetic tone

"Oh please, tell me about it. Dealing with the Hot Spring Development Department was already tiring enough, we still have to deal with the Pandemonium leadership trying to bring us down." Chinatsu complained followed by a huff, a puff, and a pout.

It's... nice to see such a rare sight of a Gehenna student and a Trinity student, even the one that was known to have hated the former with all of her being, getting along so well.

Hmm, Ibuki... is giggling, doing so while she covered her mouth with her oversized sleeves. "Yeah, Makoto has a birdbrain sometimes." She doesn't seem to mind how Chinatsu is talking negatively about her group. "Don't worry, Ibuki will scold Makoto if she tries anything with your budget thing!" That's great, heavenly even. I could feel my lips stretching to a smile along with the feelings of dread that's usually present waiting for whatever nonsense that raccoon will be up to.

A brief welcome declaration from the head of the Trinity Sisterhood met us, followed Levi-Sensei... asking her to escort us to the basement caverns... what?

/

"O Lord... Teach... Black Orb?" I questioned Levi-Sensei's instructions, my hand holding a pen trembling as the tip of it hovered above what is most definitely, a priceless ancient artifact. "Sensei, is this how magic is truly learned?" I asked in an anxious voice.

"Well, it's one of the ways." Sensei answered, leaning over closer to me slightly. "I'm not sure if it was obvious enough, but the magics are all seperate spells." That... makes sense. If those things he have so far fone could be done on a whim, then he would've done more.

"Blood magic? That sounds scary!" Ibuki whimpered out, her eyes getting wet and about to cry... until a group of blue moth flew by her, and then around her as her expression of fright turned to one of wonder.

She starts chasing after the moths in circles, followed by Levi-Sensei muttering out his gratitude... to someone named Reila?

"The Black Orb spell... is the most powerful blood magic of Gro-goroth, I'm having you use this thing so you don't have to do human or blood sacrifices." That's good to know, but wait. Why is are you just having me jump up to the top instead of learning what the basics are?! "Firstly, I heard Ayane call you the strongest in all of Kivotos. Second, if that was just a rumor, then I want it to be true. And besides, there aren't any basics here." I see. I feel myself being flustered with how highly he's peaking of me, followed by my cheeks tingling and probably turning a shade of a tomato.

But why wo- "If Chinatsu trusts you, then I will too." Is that so? if you're willing enough to trust me just by my dearest subordinates words, then I will trust you in turn.

I push the tip of the pen down on the ancient parchment paper, writing out the words he instructed me to.

Just a little more, and do-

"Nnngh!" I bit out a pained scream as I felt my head being pulled with a strong force, and just as it came, it went away as some ancient, almost incomprehensible piece of knowledge was downloaded into my mind.

The ancient parchment scroll... just dissipated.

It feels like it was downloaded in my head as I can visualize what that spell does. It's a black orb that I can shoot and manuever around, like that alien teardrop crystal in that Sci-fi book I read years ago. If I remember correctly, the title was... something about three cosmic bodies and a problem of some kind.

"What other spells are there?" At my question, even Ibuki stopped chasing the moths and looked at us. I've seen the red and black explosion, sword, summoned rats, the roots that made the improvised trench when Ako attacked Abydos, I've heard of the other explosion when Problem Solver attacked Abydos.

There were also rumors of a blinding shadow that also stung a lot, the summoned red skinless humanoid. I obviously don't need the healing spell, and the mind reading magic would be useful... but now that I think about it, whatever stupid actions the student body of Gehenna has in mind is basically telegraphed... it's simply a matter of where and when.

I guess... I don't need any other, the supposed most powerful spell sounds like it'll make my life easier whenever combat is inevitable.

"Can Ibuki learn how to summon pretty butterflies?!" She cheerfully asked Levi-Sensei with an eager expression. Should a child be learning any kind of rituals?

"Well you're in luck Ibuki, Miss Reila, a really nice ghost lady will give the spell to you for free!" He said with a smile as he turned to look at her. I see... wait, ghost? Ghosts are real?! That's who he was speaking to earlier?! "One last thing, Ibuki. They're moths, I don't think they'll like it if you call them something else." To his added explanation, Ibuki excitedly nods her head.

"Really! Thank you, Miss Reila!" Of course, Ibuki wouldn't care if it was a ghost. She eagerly, yet politely thanked who ever that is with a bow. Wait, what about the headache?!

... It won't be a problem for her, it seems. Many more of those blue moths appeared, flying up and out of her shadow. An expression of awe and happiness in her face as she waved her arms around, with the swarm of moths following where she's pointing.

"Can you go back up to big sis Chinatsu and Hasumi? Hina and I have to talk about something." Ibuki turned to him, expressing her gratitude before politely saying goodbye and taking the stairs up.

"Alright, put it simply. Kaiser PMC is invading Abydos, and I want to see how you use the black orb." That's... an unwelcome surprise. But yes, going out of your way to teach me the strongest spell... of course, it wouldn't be free.

But still... the price he's asking of me is basically a reward as I get to tests this spell.

Besides that, you need to elaborate the situation with Kaiser PMC and Abydos further.

/

Ayane P.O.V

Phew, with the amount of part timers there were, paired with their enthusiasm and hard work when they found out how much we were paying them... everything was done by midnight. The fortifications, ammunition and missiles cache, the grenades and molotov cocktails around the place, the anti tank mines around the road and anti personnel near the building entrances.

And Mr. Blood Golem... his instructions and suggestions were on point, enhancing Levi-Sensei's plans in small but creative ways. Too bad, we had to say our goodbyes, with him only being able to wave at us, as he melted back down into a red puddle.

I got a lot of cheap drones on a discount. Hehehe, the thought of making it rain hell on those PMC bastards... making Abydos your stepping stool... Sensei was right, there was nothing to negotiate with them now that I thought about it.

And there was that lucky deal I got with that student from the former SRT academy... she sold heavy explosives, smart munitions, and some kind of gun mounts that can be used to aim and fire a gun remotely. I can use it to directly support my friends on the ground.

That's why... I can't wait to see them destroyed ince tomorrow comes! With everything we have prepared, I can see even the seemingly unbeatable and countless in numbers PMC group being dismantled and obliterated by our very own hands.

I start giggling at the thought... I couldn't contain it... I just started laughing maniacally... why can't I stop myself? I sound like a deranged villain of some kind!

"Nn, Ayane finally embraced our desperate measure."

"Geez, she's been more effective in supporting us by just bombing the enemies... I'm actually jealous."

"Now, now. You're always doing your own share of the work, Serika-chan!"

... I'm never living this down, am I?

/

A/N: not me finding myself with too much time and motivation this week.

For the guys who came from that post I made on the F subreddit, welcome. I hope you enjoy the read. I included the first scene with that Rio character to give you guys an idea of what comes later on.

And yeah, that Mika character is incredibly racist... I don't think that's the right word because what she hates us Gehenna academy as a school along with it's students. Maybe... I think, it's been a short while since I read volume 3 of BA where she's one of the deuteragonists.(aka, the volumes main characters)

Also not me edging the Trinity Tea Party with Levi visiting twice and not giving them enough time to prepare and invite him.