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

9. Chapter 9

Soldier Boy and Angel Girls

Ayane P.O.V

A lot of straight up weird things have happened ever since Levi-Sensei first appeared. Haloes are a fact of life here in Kivotos, so the thought of any such lethal injuries being suffered by anyone was basically nonexistent... keyword, was.

So seeing the videos of Levi-Sensei online the first time was, missing an arm with a bloody bandage around his head along with those carvings on his face, for me and most definitely for many others, pretty trauma inducing... yet still... morbidly interesting.

Nothing even remotely similar to his condition back then have even been thought of, or created in any media. Even what was back then considered the most grotesque media be it movies or videogames could not come close... not to mention how his blood and entrails being splattered around by that tank shell.

I cringed and trembled just thinking back to it. Next was magic... it was magic! What more do I even need to say?! There was also those magical artifacts Serika-chan bought, and Miss Reila who is apparently some kind of machine deity... even if she is clearly human, somehow.

But this? ... Where do I even begin?!

"Hey, hey! My name is Kuchinashi Yume! I'm your senpai's senpai!" Cheerfully yet lazily greeted by the floating light blue figure with the exact same goofy smile Hoshino-senpai would usually have in her face.

Hoshino-senpai is by the ghostly figure's side in a bow with her arms directed to the ghost, as if she was presenting or introducing something, or rather someone.

I turn to look at Serika-chan, Shiroko-senpai, and Nonomi-senpai all wide eyed with jaws dropped staring at Hoshino-senpai's supposed senpai. I mean... I get it, I'm also absolutely flabbergasted at the sight of a honest to goodness ghost.

The literal ghost student might be wholly light blue, but I can still see some colors if I squint hard enough. Cyan colored hair, same uniform color as ours, golden halo resembling the Abydos insignia, and her chest... it's just as big as Nonomi-Senpai's! But Hoshino-Senpai's senpai...

"H-Hoshino-senpai must've a-admired you a l-lot. She wears the same shoulder holster, even has her tie tucked under it the same way you have." I nervously, yet politely told the ghost, Yume-senpai for us, because... well, because she's a ghost! Yume-senpai looks at me for a moment, frozen with eyes wide in surprise... and then she starts blushing, holding her cheeks and hiding her eyes as she looked away shyly. "She even acts a lot like you, Y-Yume-senpai!" I added in a stutter

Even with her monotone colors, I could still see how deep of a shade of red her cheeks was in. "Hoshino-chaaaan, I didn't know you thought so highly of me!" She whined in a flustered way, slowly floating away from Hoshino-senpai who's also blushing in emberassment. "You were a really aggressive but cute plush of anger back then, so I couldn't tell what you were always thinking!" Wait, Hoshino-senpai was a what now?!

"That would mean... Hoshino... was a tsundere?" Nonomi-senpai wondered aloud in disbelief, then smiling widely as it fully sank in for her. "I see, that's why you're so good at reigning Serika-chan in!" That would make a lot of sense. Serika-chan snaps to her with flustered frown.

"I-I'm not that h-hard to calm down... right?" Serika-chan shot back before her own behavior sank in for herself.

Meanwhile, Hoshino-senpai blushes in emberassment, something we've rarely seen from her, and then looking down on the ground with some hint of sorrow. And Shiroko-senpai has an obvious smirk at the discovery about Hoshino-senpai back in her first year.

I mean... that's really unexpected from how she almost always acts so relaxed and composed.

"Hmm, of course Hoshino-chan wouldn't want to talk about her emo phase." Yume-senpai teased, floating towards Hoshino-senpai with almost the exact same lousy smile she has everytime she herself would tease us. To which Hoshino-senpai starts slowly and fearfully backing away, stuttering as she tried to say something then promptly tripping and falling to her butt from nothing... I guess it completes the horror checklist or something.

"But then again, Hoshino-chan was always a hard worker." Yume-senpai softly said in a comforting way, phasing through Hoshino-senpai and then hugging her from behind, sinking the back of the pink haired head into her ghostly breasts. "Back then, little Hoshino-chan here was feared by just about everyone as the absolute best. She could take on entire armies like an action hero!" She proudly bragged with a smile, with Hoshino-senpai looking very much comfortable in her melons.

"Nn, of course she could. She wouldn't have defeated me otherwise." Shiroko-senpai said with her almost always present neutral expression. Yet the way she spoke of Hoshino-senpai is of absolute respect and admiration, obvious even with her monotone voice.

"Really? Hoshino-senpai doesn't sound like that at all." Serika-chan asked aloud in confusion and bewilderment from what the ghost senpai just told us. "She's always sleeping or taking naps." She added with a frown and a raised eyebrow.

"Well, if Hoshino worked as hard as Yume-senpai is saying, then she has every right to be lazy." Nonomi-senpai said in a soft comforting tone, a motherly smile almost the same one Yume-senpai has appearing in her lips.

"Yes! My small and cute Hoshino-chan deserves to be spoiled!" Yume-senpai squeeked out as she shook, rubbing Hoshino-senpai's head in her soft melons... Hoshino-senpai sure looks comfortable sinking her head into Yume-senpai's soft chest. "She's probably doing all night patrols instead of sleeping. Bad Hoshino-chan! Bad!" She added, and then scolded Hoshino-senpai.

Yume-senpai floated away from Hoshino-senpai with a pouty frown, with the latter whining and whimpering from being deprived of the comfortable breast pillows she so much love. That alone is obvious enough.

"Yume-senpai! I'm sorry!" Hoshino-senpai whimpered out as she reached for the phantom senpai with huge breasts, her eyes getting wet and moist about to start leaking. Yume-senpai looked saddened for a moment before returning her upset glare at my pink haired senpai.

"Only if you promise to have a healthy sleeping schedule, Hoshino-chan." Yes, that's right. Even before Serika-chan or I enrolled here, Hoshino-senpai has been working hard to keep the school afloat.

"B-but Y-Yume-Senpai... I have to-" Whatever Hoshino-senpai wants to say, we won't let it out of her. I can see my other schoolmates, my friends, with that look in their faces... They're thinking the same thing I am.

"Nonsense! We didn't show it yesterday, but we were upset with you just as Sensei was!" Nonomi-senpai was the first to interrupt her, a rare look of anger present in her usually cheery face.

"Yeah, you're always doing things alone."

"You have us, so why do you insist on dealing with our problems by yourself?!"

At Shiroko-senpai and Serika-chan's words, Hoshino-senpai's expression freezes with widened eyes. Yes... I feel the same as they do. Hoshino-senpai knows that she has us by her side, ready to catch her if she fell, ready to support in whatever she wants to do. Yet...

"Hoshino-senpai... do you not believe in us, your juniors?" At my words. Hoshino-senpai, and even the others snapped their heads to me, looking at me with shock and disbelief. "Yesterday, Levi-Sensei had to resort to... that. Forcing himself to talk about his trauma's to get you to open up." If Levi-Sensei never came to us, never talked about that so called festival then Hoshino-senpai most likely wouldn't have opened up about her senpai to even us.

"N-no, A-Ayane... you d-didn't have to k-know ab-" Hoshino-senpai stuttered and stammered trying to speak up. Seeing her lose her composure, especially from just my words, our strong and might senpai feels oddly uncanny.

"I see... so Hoshino-chan never moved on from that." Yume-senpai said as she let up her anger, sighing out in sympathy. "Hoshino-chan... You blame yourself for what happened to me, right?" At Yume-senpai's words, Hoshino-senpai... has that exact same look of fear she had when Levi-Sensei was angry at her.

Hmm, she did say that she caused her own senpai's death... But Hoshino-senpai as far as we have seen recently, proved to be secretive of her own pains. I can understand that, but taking the blame for what was definitely an unfortunate accident is...

Hoshino-senpai looks like she's about to tell Yume-senpai something, but she again is stopped as her face was once again buried in her bigger senpai's chest.

"You never changed over the years, Hoshino-chan. You're always too hard on yourself." Yume-senpai spoke in a comforting and reassuring way, tightening her arms hugging Hoshino-senpai's head. She tries to hug back, but her hands could only phase through Yume-senpai no matter how desperately she tried to grasp her.

That must be... so painfully frustrating.

"So, Hoshino-chan. It's about time you tell your juniors, and me, why you're always so tired." Demanded Yume-senpai, slowly unwrapping her arms from Hoshino-senpai and then floating backwards slowly to give her some breathing space.

Hoshino-senpai stared frozen at Yume-senpai with the tears that leaked out of her eyes somewhat dried. She then sigh's out, blinking her eyes and then turning to the rest of us.

"I've been going out on night patrols... every night until Levi-Sensei appeared... I don't think I'll ever have to do that ever again thanks to him." Hoshino-senpai spoke with relief and joy yet mixed with a small hint of hesitation and reluctance. A smile finally forms on her lips, yet her eyes have some traces of shame in it. "Especially now that the debt is gone." Oh yeah, I think Yume-senpai would be delighted to hear that!

"R-really?! How?!" As expected, Yume-senpai's reaction is like that. She even floated higher from the surprise of it. "You didn't sell your organs, did you, Hoshino-chan?! I might've always been optimistic, but even I knew that working off the debt was impossible!" Well, I can see how she would come to that conclusion.

"No worries, Yume-senpai! I dealt with the debt, as well as having retained ownership of the sold off Abydos territory in one fell swoop!" Nonomi-senpai proudly announced, reaching her hand into her pocket and pulling o-

Oh no! Before she could fully pull that out, I brought my hands up to hide my eyes away and shutting my eyes closed. I think I also saw Serika-chan and Shiroko-senpai doing the same.

"Wait, Nono- aagh!" Hoshino-senpai tried to stop her, but it was too late.

"Hey, what's the big idea? Why's everyone clo- kyaaa!"

Hoshino-senpai and Yume-senpai both squeeked out as the bright golden light of Nonomi-senpai's holy credit card enveloped the place. Even with both of my arms covering my already shut eyes, I can still clearly see the bright light.

"That's enough of that, I guess." Nonomi-senpai cheerfully said, putting her card back in her inventory with the bright golden light disappearing. Now it's safe to open our eyes.

"That's great then!" Yume-senpai said with a wide smile, and then looking over to Hoshino-senpai worried and concerned. "But why do you look so sad about it, Hoshino-chan?" She doesn't know how to respond, it seems. She looks around, humming and thinking of what to say.

"Because Hoshino, our little cute and funny senpai, believed that the only way to pay the debt was through real hard work." Nonomi-senpai... I sided with Hoshino-senpai when these discussions arose.

"But Sensei managed to make her change her mind." Serika-chan... Yeah. Sensei sure did, didn't he?

"Nn, laws don't apply with shady and evil people." We kind of kept shooting our own foot thinking those despicable people over at Kaiser could be reasoned with.

"We had to give up on being stubborn. That's what Hoshino-senpai said she learned from Levi-Sensei." I lastly added, reminiscing of her words while she was hugging Levi-Sensei and even falling asleep in his embrace... I shouldn't be jealous, I got to experience real teleportation. "Many would think that learning how to give up is bad but... after giving up on our struggle and taking the easy path, the only way we can now see is up and only up!" I couldn't help but smile as I pointed upwards with a smile. At my words and actions, I see Hoshino-senpai looking away in shame.

"I see... Yeah, Hoshino-chan... I always tried to make her take it easy. Now that I know she's learned how to... that's a really big relief." Yume-senpai said with a sigh followed by a grin of pure happiness. Hoshino-senpai looks back at her, as if waiting for something. "Is it because of that purple haired boy?" Yume-senpai asked, to which Hoshino-senpai nodded.

"I see... you girls called him Sensei, despite being obviously close ot our age. Why is that?" She asked, narrowing her eyes in caution and suspicion for whatever rea- oh, wait. "You're sure he's not just a playboy toying with my Hoshino-chan?!"

"N-no. Levi-Sensei might be young, but he's still highly capable!" Nonomi-senpai replied in panic.

"Really now?" Yume-senpai expresses her doubt.

"Y-yes, Yume-senpai. With his guidance, he turned Ayane-chan here to a force to be reckoned with!" I felt myself being flustered at Hoshino-senpai's praise. She's looking and talking about me with admiration, as if I were the senpai and her the kouhai. "You only think I can take on armies, but Ayane-chan can and have taken on an army and won!" She shouted with pride towards me. Hearing the senpai I look up to be the strongest talking about me like that is...

"Yeah! He lead us against the entirety of Kaiser PMC yesterday, and we were just annihilating them!" Serika-chan bragged with a confident smirk.

"Nn. Outnumbered and outgunned, yet they still fell to us. And we did it without Hoshino." Shiroko-senpai eagerly added, with the same smile and confidence Serika-chan had.

"R-really? Against Kaiser?! I h-have to at least admit that's super awesome, but against Kaiser?!" Well, I can see why Yume-senpai would react like that. "What in the world happened?! And why wasn't Hoshino-chan with you? She would've brought them down herself if I wasn't there to stop her." She would've?!

"Because they finally dropped all their pretense and launched a full scale invasion!" I answered, raising my voice as I remembered the anger I felt back then. "They even kidnapped Hoshino-senpai!" I lastly added, with Nonomi-senpai, Shiroko-senpai, and Serika-chan nodding with their eyebrows furrowed.

Yume-senpai's expression is frozen at what I told her. It stayed that way for a few seconds until slowly and surely, her expression darkened into a calm yet furious one. "I see... my adorable Hoshino-chan." She muttered. "But you did save her, right? I'm glad that she has you girls, and that boy by her side." She said with a sigh, calming down and showing a small smile.

"That aside, can you tell me more about that boy, Levi, I think I heard Ayane-chan call him?" Yeah, we should tell her about him since Yume-senpai being a ghost could only be because of him. "Those carvings on his face... and a missing arm." She muttered in pity and concern.

"He was sent by the GSC President, who is missing in action at the moment, to be a teacher for Kivotos." Nonomi-senpai began.

"Even at his age, he's still better than those Kaiser goons with all of their fancy toys and training." Then Serika-chan.

"He is because... he said that he was fighting and killing adults before getting hired the GSC President." Shiroko-senpai said with some hesitation, with Yume-senpai wincing and widening her eyes in shock and horror. "He did so for five years." Yume-senpai hunches over holding her stomach, muttering on about how horrible a life that would no doubt be.

"There was also that Termina festival thing which was... actually, that's Levi-Sensei's own secret to share." I lastly added, stopping myself from talking about what is rightfully his own secret to either hide or share.

"Festival?" Yume-senpai asked in confusion, the same kind we had when Levi-Sensei called it as such. "The... killings are obvious, but why are you talking about a festival like it was a bad thing, Ayane-chan?" How do we even start?

"Yume-senpai... like Ayane-chan said, it's his own secret and he decides who hears it and who doesn't." Hoshino-senpai answered on my behalf, prompting Yume-senpai to turn towards her. "But to give you an idea of how bad things was for him... The orphanage he was in had a torture dungeon." Wait... what?! But why?!

I, along with everyone save Hoshino-senpai looked on with appalled shock and horror. Because... that's just horrible, comically so. I can't bring myself to believe that such a place could possibly exist, yet... his missing arm and ruthless demeanor when it comes to armed confrontation...

"He said it while drunk... he luckily, unluckily, depending on how you see it never got to find out until recently." Hoshino-senpai added with a low serious voice. So... between being a soldier and being left to that orpha- no, he said he was mobilized so he likely had no choice in the matter...

"That's just... fighting and killing... staying in such a place..." Yes, it's awful how the first one is somehow both the worst case scenario and the better of the two fates. "Anything else that's... not comically tragic?" Well, there's at least one that will blow her mind.

"Well, he just proved the existence of magic!" Of course, Yume-senpai would have her eyes shining in awe and wonder at the revelation.

Wait a minute... we just moved on from that so easily, changing topics like changing socks... Have we become desensitized to such things due to being in close proximity with Levi-Sensei?

"That's amazing, but I kind of already knew... because... ya know... he turned me into a ghost." I suppose that should be obvious enough.

"Yeah, but there's other more awesome spells!" Shiroko-senpai shouted out with a clear smile and look of amazement. Seeing the always stoic Shiroko-senpai like this is so weird. "Explosions, a blood sword, teleportation, summoning rats and butterflies, there's Mr. Blood Golem, and then there's that black orb spell he taught and had the Gehenna Prefect Head launched towards the Kaiser forces!" She gushes out like a child watching their favorite anime having it's moment.

"I see, that must've been amazing!"

"There's the footage from when he first used it in combat Yume-senpai, it's better if you see it!" Serika-chan said while Nonomi-senpai is tapping and swiping on her phone, and then smiling as she stopped and then rushing over to Yume-senpai to show her.

"That uniform, so he was a soldier then." Give it a moment, and then... "How's he going to deal with that ta- oh my goodness!" She yelped in horror as I heard that sickening squelch of blood and flesh, followed by the guttural scream of pain from Levi-Sensei in those viral videos.

Her expression turns to that of shock and confusion as that she's probably watching that sequence play out. Rats to harass that tanks crews, explosion destroying the tracks of the tank, swing of the red sword that sliced the tank in half, and then finally the healing magic.

"Wow... That's really super awesome." Yup, practically everyone in Kivotos had that exact same reaction watching it. "But moving on. I know there's still a lot of things to talk about, but I'd like to see how much of Abydos and Kivotos have changed while I was gone." Yume-senpai said with a reminiscing smile, most likely of the time before we, except Hoshino, were even old enough for highschool.

"Like that portal looking thing." She lastly added, pointing to the tile with the drawn cross symbol, and the swirling otherworldly aura of red and black.

I sigh... Yes, it's going to be one long day, isn't it? But it's still worth it, I guess.

/

Levi P.O.V

Fuuka's being abducted... what the hell? My visit here was already weird enough just with Ako alone, and now Fuuka's being abducted. She doesn't even look the least bit afraid with her hands tied behind her back, and a tape on her mouth as a group of four girls in black uniforms took off with the commandeered jeep of her club going by the insignia on its front.

She just looked tired and annoyed, I didn't even have to read her mind to know what she was thinking... I guess I should do something now.

[Phase Step] [Phase Step]

I teleported forwards as I ran as fast as my legs could, phasing again up the rooftops to get a better view of the yellow jeep Fuuka's in, as well as her captors. I kept running, taking in their appearances as I did.

Let me see... One has long red twintails with horns, her halo is a circle broken in half at the top and bottom with a dot on the middle and a diamond at the top. She wears Mutsuki's exact uniform with thin red wings sticking out. She's armed with dual pair assault rifles.

Second one by her and Fuuka's side is... I can't tell if she's fat or if it's just her breasts. Her hair is tied into fluffy twintailed balls and she has spiraling horns. I think she's armed with the same type of machine gun Hina has, just colored red.

[Phase Step]

I teleported to another buildings rooftop on the other side of the road, and kept running and jumping across rooftops trying to keep up my pursuit.

The one driving has long untied blonde hair with horns, and her halo is blue with spikes. I can't see what weapon she has.

The last one on the passenger seat, dressed like a Bremen officer with a single wing sticking out from her back. She has grey hair with a red halo, armed with a rifle judging by the barrel length and scope of her gun.

Alright, how do I go about doing this?

"Arona, is ther-"

[Yes, Levi-Sensei. Miss Fuuka's always getting kidnapped by them, the Gourmet Research Society, that it almost happens weekly. It's only natural that the Prefect Team is already used to this.] I get it... actually, no I don't! Why Fuuka?! Why would they choose to target a chef of all people?! [Well... as their name suggests, they like eating. Their goal is to get a taste of all things delicious around Kivotos.] That only tells me they're gluttons and barely told me anything important.

[I see, well... intercepting their Momochat logs... they abducted Fuuka-san to have her cook a rare ingredient they stole.] What the fuck? ... You know what, I'm not even going to question this madness. Has the security forces of Gehenna already started moving? [Yes, Levi-Sensei! Hina-san should be waiting for them in the blockade in the next corner.] Really? That's great then! Ring up Hina, tell her I'm rescuing their hostage so she can let loose.

[Yes, Levi-Sensei!] Arona loudly said in excitement and confidence. Alright. Reaching corner as the yellow jeep slid to a right turn I jump off the building and see Fuuka, along with all of her captors, even the driver widening their eyes with their jaws dropped as they saw me.

I see Hina in my right peripheral vision breaking to a sprint, probably also shocked at my leap off the building.

[Phase Step]

And in a moment, I was standing on the jeeps backside with Fuuka infront of me gawking on in surprise, as well as her captors. Even the driv-

"Eyes on the front! You're gonna crash!" I shouted as loudly as I could in panic as the jeep was speeding into the blockade and past Hina, and the blonde haired and horned driver has her back to the wheel.

I moved as fast as I could, grabbing Fuuka and-

[Phase Step]

Teleporting away to safety, with a clear view of the jeep crashing into the blockade as it's occupants was thrown face first through the air and then the ground. Hina looks at me for a moment, and then sighing out of relief and then turning to the aftermath of that Gourmet Groups mess.

Then the Prefect girls came rushing to keep them down, the hands of those gluttonous abductors being cuffed in their banks. They were then pulled up to their feets, and then dragged off to probably prison.

"Hmmph! Hmm! Hmmphmmph!" Fuuka muffled out through the tape in her mouth, looking at me... is she upset Oh yeah, I should free Fuuka from her bondage.

Walking around and behind her, turning her head to keep her eye on my, I reached for her mouth and ripped off the tape making her sigh out. And then I pull out my Lugr to shoot at the rope tying her hands, with Fuuka jumping from being startled by the bang.

"Thank you, Levi-Sensei. But did you really have to rip it out like that?!" I mean... I got it off and rescued you, right? "That you did, and I'm grateful. But you need to treat ladies with care, you know that, right?" I do... sorry. Their halo's might protect them from harm, but not pain it seems.

"And did you really have to shoot the rope?!" Fuuka asked with a pout, rubbing her hands from where she was tied. "You could've just pulled on it." Again, sorry Fuuka.

"Fine, but moving on." Fuuka said, then turning around to take in the sight of her jeeps windshield cracked, and the engine smoking, and then letting out a heavy sigh and groan. "This is coming straight out of our budget. And Levi-Sensei, I don't want to see you jumping off a building again!" She said in an irritated, furious voice. I... yeah, I won't Fuuka! I swear to the Gods!

I had my hand and left stump up in surrender with an awkward smile, her narrowed gaze glaring at my very soul. "Good, see to it that you never act as reckless as you did. Even if it's to help someone." I couldn't say no or even think about denying it, her caring and soothing voice filling my ears. And so, I nodded, with Fuuka giving me a small smile before turning around and walking towards the Prefect girls, probably for a ride.

"Levi-Sensei! Are you alright?!" I turn to look at Hina running towards me, shouting out in concern.

"I'm fine. Magic, remember?" I replied with a smile, with Hina stopping once we were close enough and giving me a smile back.

Hmm, I should tell her. "Hina... Ako, your comrade." I started, catching her full attention as she raised her brows in confusion. "She admires you... a lot. So make sure to praise her a lot, to care for her. She's devoted to you, and the Prefect Team. She needs it."

Hina stiffens up, her eyes widened in surprise at what I said. She then blinks, returning to a composed and confident expression showing a small smile and nodding softly.

"Devoted to me, you say? That's an intimate way of stating her loyalty." To be honest, that's an understatement... by a metric ton.

"Right, sorry I can't stay for long. There are other students asking for my help." I say, bringing up my phone and showing her my Momochat messages. Hina's eyes scan it, her eyes turning side to side and from up going down as she read a message off of it.

"I see... Himuro Sena, Head of the Gehenna Emergency Medical Club." Hina stated, blinking her eyes as she finished reading the message. "There's a firefight between delinquent forces and Prefect security forces a few blocks that way." She said, pointing towards a direction.

"She should be on standby, ready to transport the unconscious and injured students for treatment once clear." I see. Thanks Hina! I would've killed to serve under you, you're so reliable! "I.. Sensei. I'm just doing my job, nothing worthy of praise." Exactly why I would've! Most of the adults I served under weren't even qualified for their position, and they weren't even doing anything at all!

"I see. But still... actually, we should both be addressing our respective duties at a time like this."

"Yeah, be seeing you later, Hina."

/

I heard some gunfire on the way here, I already had my Lugr out so I'm a little disappointed that I got here too late to join the fight.

Those girls... they look like nurses. No, they are nurses, checking the girls on the ground for injuries and either treating them or putting the unconscious ones in a stretcher.

And that girl with the short white hair with braids and horns and a grey halo, ordering the other nurse girls around with a- is that a grenade launcher in her hands?!

"Provide first aid to those who are hurt but are still awake. Fire warning shots to whoever's feigning sleep if you feel like it." Their leader with a grenade launcher ordered as she walked and looked around. The white haired girl then gives the go order, and her underlings echoed the go command as they fulfilled their orders.

"Also, make sure to carry the corps- no, unconscious ones to the ambulance." Did she say corpses?! No, I don't see any blood or bleeding bodies. What the hell is up with her?

One of those nurse girls went and pointed her submachinegun on a helmet girl with her halo still up, and then just casually opened fire, startling that helmeted girl to a scream.

"A-alright! I'll walk!" She shouted in fear, struggling to push herself up and then limping to wherever she was told to. That happened like, 10 times just now.

Did they really have to so that? It's already obvious when a student is asleep or awake with their halos, so... are they just doing it for fun?

"Oh? Levi-Sensei, you're here?" The soft and calm voice of the white haired girl asked with surprise in her tone. "Introductions are in order I suppose. My name is Himuro Sena, President of the Gehenna Emergency Medical Club. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Levi-Sensei." She, Sena, politely greeted with a small bow.

"L-Levi of Prehevil. Nice to meet you as well, Sena." I introduced my self back, stuttering a little as I remembered her calling a living person a corpse. Sena gives a nod and a small smile, and then turning to shout more orders to he girls.

"Once you're done segregating the fakers, return to cover. There's still some combat, so we need to prepare for more dead bo- I mean injured people." She had to pause and reword a part of her order, but she still got them out clearly to her club members as they did exactly what Sena said. You... you really like talking about dead bodies, don't you?

"N-not really, it's just a habit." So Sena said, stuttering for a bit before retaining her stoic expression. "I wouldn't wish pain and injuries upon anyone, but... I can't deny that I'm curious about cadavers." I mean... The way people first looked at me, Rin, Yuuka, Hasumi, and Chinatsu most importantly, was also of surprise and bewilderment.

And with how tough people are here in Kivotos, I can see how interested, even if it's morbid, girls like you would be when it came to my injuries.

"Y-yes, I always work towards making sure the dea- I mean injured get treated well. Yet... I would not know what to do if they suffered the same injuries as you did, or something even much worse, Levi-Sensei." I see... that makes sense, why would anyone have to come up with something that's basically useless? Even now that I'm here, I'm just one person. Not important enough to be the entire city's concern.

"That's far from the truth, Levi-Sensei. I might not know much about you, same with much of Kivotos. But you still single handedly, literally that is, brought stability back to Kivotos." Yeah, I did. But it was mostly thanks to- "And even then, Chinatsu talked about you with so much care and affection. She wouldn't want to hear you talking about yourself like that, Sensei." I... really can't argue with that, or anything that has to do with Chinatsu at all. Why are you smiling like that?

"Nothing, we shou-" Sena stops talking, turning to the sound of... marching towards us. "It's the Prefect Team, they got here sooner than expected." Is that so? That's really impressive then. I turn to look at the sounds of marching, and see at least two platoons of those girls under Hina, depending on which system of classifications they're using.

"We're on the scene! Arrest everyone!" Their platoon captain ordered loudly.

"Wipe them all out! Huuah!" Is that their battle cry? Or their specific platoons creed?

They start moving, charging towards somewhe- oh nevermind, there were some delinquent and helmet gangster stragglers trying to run away. They were chased down, cornered as they screamed and then came a cacophony of gunfire. After a few seconds, they stopped firing, cuffed the stragglers and then dragged them away.

"Is it always like this in Gehenna?" I ask, not knowing how to think or feel about... just everything I've so far seen in just the morning and afternoon I spent here.

"Unfortunately, yes." Well, at least it feels like home... home... I really started thinking of the trenches as home at one point, goddamnit. "Sensei, I'm sorry if Gehenna isn't to your liking." No, that's fine. I just remembered something, nothing to be worried about.

"Hey you! You're with the Emergency Medical Club?" Shouted one of the Prefect girls to Sena, rushing towards us with her gun at the ready.

"Yes, I am the President, Himuro Sena. What can I do for you?" She politely replied and asked.

"Oh, you're the president? Forgive my rudeness then." The Prefect girl politely apologized with a soft yet firm voice, followed by a little bow. "That one student lying down there, she's one of the masterminds of this incident." She said, pointing to a delinquent with a face mask who's looking on in fear.

"I f-formally ask that she is handed over to us for interrogation." She says that politely, yet her trigger finger is itching... like, a lot. I mean, the girl looks nervous so that's probably why.

"Yes, and?" At Sena's reply, the girl in a purple uniform let out a confused sound and a flabbergasted expression. "All injured students are under our care. And they will remain so until they have made a full recovery." At her words, the apparent delinquent leader breaths a sigh of relief. Even with a mask, I can see her smirk.

"That's preposterous! We have a-" I interrupted the small and cute foot soldier, moving between her and Sena.

"Don't worry, I'll deal with it." She nods to me. I then turn to Sena with a surprised yet curious look. "She just needs to recover, right?" To that, Sena nods.

And so, I start walking towards the supposed mastermind that Prefect girl pointed to with a grin. She sees me, and with a panicked expression she tries to run away... but she could only limp with her injuries.

I reach her, and then I wrap my arms around her body and hoist her up to my shoulder. She screams and struggles, but she can't escape me. I start walking back to the Prefect girl, and then-

[Loving Whispers]

I start whispering my prayers to Sylvian, a light purple aura enveloping the delinquent girl up my shoulder, closing her wounds and treating whatever else she has.

Both Sena and the little Prefect member look on in wonder as the light of Sylvians blessing brighten up our surroundings.

I then drop her down after the spell dissipated, leaving her in utter confusion fully healed. And without hesitation, the deceptively tiny Prefect foot soldier bashes the butt of her gun down the delinquents head with such force that she was rendered unconscious in an instant.

"Thank you, Sensei!"

With her target discombobulated, she cuffs the supposed mastermind delinquents hands behind her back, and then promptly dragging her back to wherever for interrogation.

"So that was the magic Chinatsu was so prideful to have learned." Sena, the way you talk about Chinatsu... "Yes, she used to be part of my club." Is that so?

"Well, looks like the corpses are all accounted for." Sena said, looking around all of the injured with some bandages courtesy of her girls. "I'd love to talk more, particularly about cadavers but I still have work to do." Just call when you need me, Sena.

"Yes, until next time then, Levi-Sensei.

I turned around, about to phase away when Sena grabbed me, bringing her lips to my ears whispering something.

"And don't miss my call. I can help you with setting up a date with Chinatsu, I've heard of how fond you are of her, Levi-Sensei."

...

...

...

I could only nod at her words.

"That's great, goodbye then. The Prefect Team should've made a safe path for you to take, but still, be careful on your way."

/

Well, that was weird. Where do I go now? No other nearby students are calling for my help at the moment... Eh, there's one in the Shiratori outskirts near here.

And so, I started walking towards where it should be. Looking around, even after all this time, I can't get over how everything is so clean and looks so mesmerizing. Just being here, seeing such a place is enough to make me forget about just... everything.

And so, I walked and walked. I walked through the prosperous city of steel and glass under a bright blue sky, occasionally crossing a haloed student or an animal or machine person.

"Nin-nin!" Cheerfully hummed a short haired fox eared girl with a submachinegun as she passed me, wearing a colorful coat with a flowery pattern over her uniform.

That was... so colorful! I turned around to look at the fox eared girl, only to see her nowhere. She just disappeared... or she knew Phase Step. No, I would've felt it.

...

Cautiously, I turn around and keep on walking my way. I feel it... eyes on my back watching me, observing me. Is it a student from that Arius place? Or maybe it's a spy sent by Black Suit? No, there's little to no killing intent. And someone like Black Suit probably has... what's the word? Sophisticated ways to track me.

And so, I kept on walking. Very much aware of the fact that I'm being watched. Hmm, this looks like a good place to lose and bait the stalker like I did Wakamo.

I turned to an alleyway with little to nothing for anyone to hide behind, I walked through it, slowing my speed to a snails pace hoping the pursuer slips up and I see her. It's probably a her given how just about everyone's a girl here.

I hear some creaking from up above, appearing and then disappearing the same pace a normal person would be walking. Now, how do I deal with this stalker?

Red Arc? Moth Swarm? My choices are limited in this enclosed space... When in doubt, Black Orb I suppo-

Creak!

Whatever the stalker was standing on caved in.

"Eh? Aagh!" She, whoever she may be, yelped out startled at her footing just disappearing. I turn to look at it, and I see the same fox eared girl I passed by earlier.

We make eye contact... she doesn't seem malicious, just shy and embarrassed at her failure.

For a moment, we just stared at each other's eyes.

...

...

...

Really awkwardly, she even started to sweat and blush.

"Uuhm." She looks like she has something to say but is too shy, and then suddenly, she just disappears with smoke just coming out of nowhere.

Was that... that was a Phase... yet it wasn't... what the hell was it.

Taking out my phone and opening KivoMap, I cast-

[Reveal Aura]

Showing that Fox Girls halo, a pink circle with separated petals almost like Wakamo's halo on my phone. Hmm, that's not really far... I turn my body, adjusting until I was facing the direction her halo is in.

I look up and then-

[Phase Step]

Here I am high up on a building.

"Huh?! Where'd he go? Was that Ninjutsu, or was that the magic everyone's talking about?" Wondered aloud in bewilderment by the Fox Girl that's stalking me, her tail up in alert, not at all noticing that I'm behind her.

[Flesh Puppetry]

Just how many times will I summon these two today?

Anyway, just like with Ako, I'm not gonna act polite with bad girls. And just like with Ako, I directed the hands up to this Fox Girls face to cover her eyes.

The little Fox Girl stiffens up in fear as her vision was covered by the hands. Trembling, she slowly turns around while stammering.

"Y-you caught me... S-Sensei of Schale, I presume?" The Fox Girl nervously and shyly said in surrender, putting her hands up with an awkward smile as she got down on her knees.

"Yeah, now who are you? And why are you following me?" I ask, keeping the hands on her eyes. She turns her head to the side, making hums with her mouth probably thinking about what words to use. "Unless I get a name, you're not seeing my face."

"I am K-Kuda Izuna of the Hyakkiyako Ninjutsu Research Club!" The fox eared girl, not Wakamo, introduced herself with a slight stutter. "I w-wanted to b-bear witness to your n-ninju- I mean, your magic!" I see, whatever that ninjutsu thing is, it's most similar to magic. Right, Izuna, was it?

"Y-yes, L-Levi-Dono!" Alright, what's with that honorific, Izuna? Hmm, maybe I should finally remove the hands from her eyes. "It's an honorific for a lord, befitting of one with the title of Sensei, right?!" She explained with a cheerful smile, the hands moving away and showing her eager eyes to complete her full expression.

"Sure, I guess." I mean... I might as well be a noble with how much authority the President left me. Izuna has her full attention on the floating pair of hands, looking on intently with her tail wagging in excitement.

"This is... magic? It's amazing!" Izuna said with pure fascination in her eyes, following the hands wherever it floated. "It's just like ninjutsu." That sounds like a far eastern word, is it another word for magic?

"Kind of, those are special arts used by ninjas!" Another term I'm unfamiliar with, mind explaining what that means? "Sure. Ninjas are warriors residing in the shadows! Protecting their lords from all sorts of threats!" Warriors in the shadows? Doesn't she mean assassins?

"Speaking of ninjas. Levi-Sensei, are you from a ninja family?! You found me in just mere moments!" Izuna asked politely with a gulp, her tail wagging faster in anticipation. Hmm, I actually have to think about that.

Mom died before I was old enough to even remember her face, so I don't know even the slightest bit about any of my ancestors. As for my ancestors on the father side... not important. The less I have to think about that asshole, the better.

... It leaked out to my voice again, as always.

"That's terrible... I'm sorry for asking." Don't worry about it too much Izuna. I don't come from a long line of warriors, but I'll have you know that I defeated a fearsome foe in a fair duel. "Really? It must've been a tough fight!" Well... not really. I had a gun and that other guy had a bow and arrow.

"But he was still scary. He ran and jumped around buildings, slaying monstrous moonscorched abominations with his bow and arrow!" As I spoke about Mister August, Izuna's eyes widened and glimmered in awe and wonder. "And get this, he's the descendant of the Monster Hunter Ragnvaldr, who killed so much beasts that they were all just myths by the time he passed on!"

"Whoa... That's amazing." Was the only thing Izuna could say as she was completely awestruck at that little story. "Monster Hunter Ragnvaldr... that's quite a title, and the fact that it's no exaggeration." Yeah.

Just finding out that Ragnvaldr was a real person along with his achievements was mind boggling.But after going through Mister August's knowledge and memories, I felt giddy that I managed to beat him in a man to man duel! I mean, I beat a honest to Gods demigod!

"My Lord isn't a ninja... yet he's a capable duelist even with a missing arm as I've seen online." Izuna said with a small soft smile, nodding as if she was reassured of something. "Levi-Sensei, I might not be as good as you, but I'll do my best to help should you call for my aid!" She said, unwavering determination in her voice and expression. I couldn't help but give her a smile in return.

"Your best is more than enough, Izuna." She practically beams at my words. "But my first lesson to you as your Sensei is: when your target starts walking somewhere you can't move well, or an open space, then you're already compromised."

"Wow... so close to my age, yet with so much wisdom... I must write that down." So Izuna said, pulling out a parchment scroll, not like those empty scrolls under the Sisterhoods cathedral, and began writing in far eastern letters.

"I've been getting that a lot. Is it really impressive to know about common sense stuff?" I ask in confusion, as I remember all the times people have talked about me being wise or something.

"Yes! I don't know about the other people you speak of, but you spoke like a seasoned elderly master to me!" She cheerfully said in excitement, finishing her writing and then rolling back and putting that parchment scroll back inside her bag. "Michiru and Tsukuyo will want to hear of this!"

Izuna then clears her throat. "Sensei, bear witness to my disappearing ninjutsu!" Izuna proudly declared.

She then starts doing some signs with her hands, rapidly changing from one to another as she chanted. Something something and then jutsu I think.

A gust of smoke then suddenly appears out of nowhere. Izuna herself was gone as the dust dissipated, leaving a wooden fox doll where she just was.

... I can still hear her loudly, proudly talking with a boisterous voice... I turn to where I'm hearing her voice... she isn't even that far.

[Phase Step]

And just like earlier, I'm once again behind her. Hmm, these two hands never returned to my shadow.

... Hehe.

"Levi-dono will probably be lonely without me, bu-"

I then have the pair of puppet hands cover her eyes again.

"Second lesson: when making your escape, make sure you're at least on the other side of town before you start celebrating!"

"Aggh! I w-will, Levi-dono!"

/

A number of explosions come from somewhere in the town square, the shockwave coming first and then the sound making my ears start ringing slightly. Then the black smoke, presumably from the explosions blew high up enough that I could see it even with the towering buildings of glass and steel in the way.

After a minute or so, numerous blue and white vehicles of the Valkyrie police force sped towards where the smoke is coming from.

And the people and students around me... they just looked towards where the explosions came from for a moment, and then they just went about their day as usual... as if the explosions were nothing to worry about.

... I couldn't stop myself from sighing out in exasperation, this is Kivotos and there's nothing I can do about it. Anyways-

[Phase Step]

I blink to the other side of the road, through the speeding cop cars in single file formation. I then start running towards the blockade made by the police girls, encircling a... Helmet Thug with a hostage shield in gunpoint.

Is it still an encirclement if it's a square? I mean... there's no other word for that, so I guess so.

As I got closer, the loud voice of the hostage taker shouted her demands as her hostage whimpered and trembled in fear. In the line of police girls, I see a familiar braided white hair. The same white uniform with a cap, and violet halo in a stained glass window pattern.

"Huh? Oh, Levi-Sensei, you're here?!" Kirino asked in surprise as she turned around to look at me. "Thank goodness! I didn't know what to do here!" She whined aloud with, looking at me in a rejoiced expression.

"Right, sitrep now, Kirino." I said while walking past her, keeping my eyes focused on the hostage, a dog person in a suit, and his student captor.

"Any suspicious moves, and this one's a goner!" The helmeted hostage taker loudly threatened.

"R-right, Sensei. She has bombs all around the place with a wireless detonator, so she can detonate all of them with just the flick of a finger!" Wireless... detonator? Does it use radios? Can't you girls jam the radios signal or whatever the radio operators called that?

"With proper preparations, yes. But the hostage taker may lose her patience faster than we can find and jam her detonators frequency!" Kirino shouted with eyes wide and lips tight in alert. "Can you use magic for this, Levi-Sensei?" Hmm...

"I can't see any of the spells subduing the perpetuator without the detonation happening." I said, thinking of what I have and how I could use it in this situation. "And with Phase, I mean teleportation... I would lose my mind faster than I could find all of the bombs." Even then, I was never trained in Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

"Oh, I see... but still, maybe I could use my negotiation skills here. It's never failed me in the Public Safety Bureau!" Kirino seemed saddened that the spells in my disposal can't help herr, then she confidently started talking about her skills in diplomacy and then running off towards the hostage taker.

... I'm pretty sure that's not at all part of whatever Valkyries protocols are, going by how even her comrades are all flabbergasted. But... actually, yeah sure. I want to see how well, or not, she does.

Kirino runs closer to the target, stopping in her tracks and just pulling out her snub nosed revolver and then pointing it at the Helmeted Girl as she looked at her.

"Stop resisting! Surrender now and you'll be treated well!" Kirino shouted, pulling back her tiny revolvers hammer.

... That isn't negotiating... Hell, it's not even part of any procedure for these kinds of incident. But still, I want to see how she does. If I'm gonna teach her something, then I better know what she sucks at first.

"Huh?! They sent a negotiator?!" Even the hostage taker sounds as flabbergasted as Kirinos peers looks confused and unsure of what to do looking at her. "Who are you, police girl?"

"I am Kirino, from the Public Safety Bureau of Valkyrie Police Academy!" She answered back, pride and confidence in her face and voice.

"Public Safe-! Do you think I'm an idiot or something?! You think I'm a pushover?!" The helmeted thug angrily shouted back in indignation, tightening her hold on the hostage and choking him. "Send the Public Security or Public Peace Bureaus! Hell, just send a proper negotiator!" She shouted, pushing her gun on the hostages cheeks.

"P-pardon?! I will have you know that I am still a respected member of Valkyrie, despite being from the Safety Bureau!" Kirino shouted back, this time being her turn to feel indignant. At her words, the helmeted girl moves her head, probably grumbling and muttering to herself.

[Mind Read]

What the hell am I supposed to do with this runt?! This airheaded idiot definitely doesn't have the authority to give me what I need!... Better than nothing, I guess.

"Alright, fine! Start talking! If I see you trying anything funny, then I'll blow the entire damn place skyhigh!" The criminal shouted cautiously, her full attention on Kirino who looks relieved at her reply.

She then pulls out a notebook, opening it midway and then reading something.

Let's see here... next, find out what she wants. Like the manual for hostage negotiation states.

Seriously, she's reading an instruction book midway through the job?!

"R-right. Can you tell us why you're doing all this, and what we can give in exchange for the hostage." Kirino asked with worry and caution in her expression, determination and a strong will in her voice.

"Firstly, I splurged all of my money on Cat Cafe last week. Secondly, obviously for money you dimwit!" As a cop, shouldn't that have been obvious enough for Kirino?

"I barely ate this week since I spent most of my pocket money on silver vine fruit and catnip for the new calico that came in." ... The hell is that supposed to mean? "I wouldn't have done this if I had money!" ... She had money... she spent that money...

"But that's... kind of your own doing, right?" Yeah! What Kirino said!

"Huh?! You're really smart, aren't you?! Pissing off someone with a hostage and bombs!" The Helmeted Girl gutturally shouted in rage to Kirino.

"No one forced you to spend so irresponsibly! If you didn't have enough for a decent life, then you should've gotten a job!" Kirino sternly scolded, with a calm expression yet with furrowed brows.

The hostage taker staggers at her words, her armed hand shaking and the other holding the hostage slightly loosens, letting the hostage breath again.

That's true... but-

"Stupid little runt! You really like pissing off hostage takers, don't you?!" And just as quickly as she calmed down, she's back to being tense.

Kirino takes out a notebook, different from that last one. She then takes out a pen and... is she writing that down?! Didn't she know not to talk to angry people so patronizingly?!

"I see, then do you have any demands for the hostages release?" Kirino asked calmly with a soft yet demanding voice.

"Finally, now you're talking alright!" The hostage taker said with a sigh of relief. "Get me the cash amount of these diamonds I have, then give me a sports car for my getaway!" She loudly demanded.

Wait a minute... I take a look around, noting down... just about everything. The barricades, lines upon lines of cars and trucks on the roads, all of those things... Are you stupid or something?

"Excuse yo- Oh... the Gun Mage Sensei!" As she looked at me and shouted that ridiculous title I somehow got, she started trembling in fear.

Actually, how the hell did she hear me from all the way over there?

[Phase Step]

And in a second, I'm by Kirino's side and near the hostage taker. They're both startled at the sudden teleportation, even taking a step back in synchrony.

"In case you somehow didn't already notice, you won't be making any such getaways with the traffic." I told the helmeted hostage taker with slight annoyance... I probably shouldn't teach any student how to commit a crime better.

"Yes, and those minerals you have aren't diamonds, they're cheap Zirconia. So..." Kirino trailed off after following up on my words. "It might be more cost efficient if you just rented out a sports car." She informed the hostage taker.

The helmeted criminal just freezes, looking around awkwardly probably wondering what the fuck she's gonna do now.

"Oh to hell with it!" She shouted out in rage, bringing her arm holding the hostage up and brandishing what I assume to be the detonator. She brings her thumb up, about to press down until-

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three low caliber shots rung out next to me, it's Kirino with her tiny revolver with her right eye squinted. The orange flashes of her bullets hit... the hostage, every single one to which the dog man screamed and whimpered in pain.

Huh? So they're sturdy in their own ways even without halos.

Anyways, what the fuck did I just witness? I mean... it's an effective strategy once I think about it. There's no longer a hostage situation if there's no hostage.

"S-Seriously, are you insane?!" The hostage taker asked in fear and incredulity, fear towards Kirino and what I just mouthed off.

"No, Sensei! I just missed. But don't worry, not this time!" And so, she fired her last three bullets on the revolvers cylinder, this time with her left eye squinted.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each, once again, hitting the hostage of all things, to which the dog person in a suit cried out. Hmm... she used both eyes to aim. First using my advice back then to aim with her left, then adjusting back to her right eye... yet she still hit the hostage...

Does she just suck at aiming? No, her shots on that poor hostage are too precise, all hitting the face even with how small of a target it is. Kirino... you did all of that in purpose.

"I did not!" She shouted in denial. Hmm, she did say that her aim was always off.

Anyway, the target is just... frozen and trembling in absolute terror... I can feel it.

This is probably the worst possible negotiation is history! She just kept pissing me off, and now she's shooting the hostage?! Usually, negotiators are hesitant in these kinds of situation, yet... don't tell me she just doesn't care?! Wait... the rumors I've heard... There's an insane Valkyrie student who doesn't hesitate to shoot at hostages to hunt her target! And the Gun Mage Sensei... he has magic... and I'm no match against it, obviously...

I see... so this isn't the first time, and it probably won't be the last time.

"A-alright! I surrender, please spare me!" The helmeted girl shouted out in fear, dropping her gun, the hostage, and then the detonator down as she put her hands up in surrender.

I hear Kirino loading bullets into her revolvers cylinders. She then rolls it back into it's chamber, locking it in and then pointing it up towards the former hostage taker who yelps out in terror.

"That's enough, Kirino." I said, putting my hand on her gun and slowly pushing it down. "Officers! Apprehend and secure the suspect, now!" I shouted towards the police girls behind the barricades, who then rushes to do as I ordered.

"The criminal... had a sudden change of heart. It must've been my negotiation skills!"

"It wasn't, and you're coming with me to a shooting range." I said, grabbing Kirino by the neck and before she could let out a word-

[Phase Step]

I teleport us towards the direction of Schale. I saw a shooting range there, and it would be great if it's put into use.

"Wow, Sensei... ugh, teleporting feels so weird."

/

It's been at least ten minutes, and Kirino has fired at the very least a hundred rounds. So far, each and every of her shots has hit the hostage instead of the criminal in the paper target.

What the hell? Her breathing isn't the problem, same with her arms strength, her hands are steady so stability isn't an issue...

"I know that I'm aiming right, but it always feels like the bullet fire's in a different direction." Kirino whined as she took in the results of her paper target shots... if that was a real person, then he wouldn't have much of a face. "Uwaah, Sensei!" Hmm, maybe it's the sights?

"Kirino, load your pistol again and let my try it out." I said, making a hand gesture to give me her gun. She loads it's cylinder, then locking it in before handing it over to me.

[Gunslinger]

I aim up another target paper all the way back in the range, pulling back the hammer before pulling the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The bullets I fired hit upwards, near the hook holding the entire target paper.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I fire at it again near the part holding itself to the hook and the target paper hanged on by a thread, eventually tearing itself off and floating down as it could no longer hold itself together.

"Damnit, it's not the sights." I muttered out in annoyance and frustration, handing the small revolver back to Kirino who is wide eyed and jaws dropped in utter shock looking at the firing range.

"Of course it's not, I always do maintenance on it." She said, still looking on at the range, specifically what remains of the target paper I just destroyed, in disbelief. "That's so cool... from this long and with just six bullets... those rumors of you hitting the Fox of Calamity ten thousand feet away is true, isn't it?" Yeah, I'm really good at shooting things.

"Can you try shooting at that target paper really close by, the one directly in front of you." Kirino looks insulted, but still loaded her gun and then aimed and fired it to where I said.

And yeah, the end of the barrel is right in front of the paper hostage takers head.

Bang! Bang!

Two shots out, smoke blowing from the muzzle. And somehow... the two bullet holes are on the paper hostages head.

"W-what?! Just h-how?!" Yeah, just what the fuck is happening here?!

"K-Kirino, try aiming at the hostage directly, will you?" I stuttered out a little, because how the fuck did that even happen?!

"I c-can't do that Sensei! As a police officer, I shouldn't be aiming at hostages!" She shouted back hesitantly with a sense of disgrace at herself and my order.

"You're already hitting hostages anyways." I said with a deadpan tone.

Kirino just stares at me for a moment... well, this is awkward... she then begrudgingly aims her gun towards the paper hostage.

Bang! Bang!

This time, her bullets finally put a hole in the hostage takers head... even she is shocked and confused.

"Kirino... try doing it again, but with the other target paper way back there." And so, she does.

Bang! Bang!

Then there goes her last two shots. Slowly, she puts her hands and then presses the button activating the mechanism that made the holder of the target paper move closer to us.

And viola! The bullets hit the hostage taker dead in the eyes! What the hell is up with you, Kirino?! Were your ancestors cursed by a witch or a shaman?!

"That's impo- no... magic exists... will I have to aim on hostages from now on?" Looks like it. "No! Let me fire again, maybe those were just flukes!" Sure, as much as you want.

And so, she fired and fired. Aiming at the culprit but always hitting the hostage. She cried and whined as her shots aimed at the hostage hit the culprit... sounds like she's basically accepted that fact.

Hmm, should I give her a spell? Red Arc, Black Orb, hurting... no, she's still gonna reflexively aim and fire at hostages again and the durability of people here obviously has some limits.

The Black Orb doesn't need aiming, just the force of it moving is strong enough to wreak havoc... at least here in Kivotos.

/

[Sensei, you should check up on the Rabbit Platoon.] Arona said, projecting a tiny hologram of herself in my peripheral vision.

"Oh yeah, you know where they went?" They said they would take their own chances, but... I honestly don't see them doing much.

[They went back to Kousagi park... looks like they're homeless... and they haven't eaten much.] Arona said with pity and concern.

... Goddamnit, I spent a good chunk of my supposed salary on my way to Abydos. Arona, you think I can borrow from Rin?

[No need for that, Sensei. You still have a weekly salary coming the next day or so.] That's good to know, but we need to get something for Miyako and her girls. [Not to worry, Angel 24 is throwing out expired bentos today. I say expired, but it should still be edible!] Expired as in rotten? Yeah, I've eaten a lot of those.

And I can eat a lot more of it, I'm basically immune to food poisoning at this point. But I don't think the Rabbit girls should be eating that kind of food, for obvious reasons.

[It's not really rotten, it just means no longer fresh.] I see... what a waste. To Sora we go then.

[Right! Here's a map and a line coordinate.] Arona said, moving away from my peripheral and showing me a holographic map showing where I am and where Angel 24 is with a line connecting both icons.

That's pretty close, no need for a Phase.

/

Saki P.O.V

Things... have been downhill for a while now. First it was the SRT shutdown, then when we tried to fight back and rebel... that Sensei... he's only our age, yet he was given that title. We're supposed to be the elites yet he completely defeated, even humiliated us, a mere conscript!

But that aside, things are still bad. We decided to return back to Kousagi park, salvaging whatever ammunitions, provisions, and whatever tents we could use that survived the artificial flood that so called Sensei made happen.

On the bright side, the park was almost fully dry so we can just redig trenches and set up tents easier but... we've barely eaten ever since got out of Valkyrie prison. And Moe just sold a good number of our remaining hardware, along with a good chunk of valuable munitions...

I mean, we got somethings to eat after that, but still...

Huh, that sound? Someone fell down the trap we made! Putting on my helmet with my gun on hand, I rush towards our headquarters entrance.

As I got closer, I saw more clearly the white buttoned shirt with the armless left sleeve and the dark purplish hair. It's that Sensei Boy, carrying three large bags of bentos... he's carrying one on hand, the other two is on floating hands... probably magic.

He sees me, then he smiles and brings his left stump up, waving the loose sleeve around. Ugh, that looks... so weird. Wait a minute, didn't Moe mine that trap?!

Levi-Sensei widened his eyes in alert and panic, and then he-

"Kyaa!" I yelped out startled, jumping back and landing on my butt as my heart rate shot up from adrenaline. He... he just teleported in front of me.

How did he kno- oh, right. Mind reading! I would've snapped at him for reading my thoughts, but... I'll let it slide this time.

Then as if on cue, the mine in the trap detonates. Dust and smoke following the shockwave making out hair and clothes wave around. Seriously, the way his armless sleeve is moving... I feel my spine tingling just seeing it.

"I can understand the need for traps, but why the hell was it mined?!" He shouted down on me in exasperation, breathing heavily also in adrenaline. He then sighs out, handing the bag of bentos he's holding to one of those floating hands and then offering to pull me up.

... Reluctantly, I take his hand. Then with unexpected strength from a guy with just one arm, he pulls me up. He brings his arm a little too high up, and carried me along with my feet just dangling... He didn't even notice or flinch from carrying me!

"Oh, sorry." Sensei said, slowly and gently lowering me down until I felt the ground on my toes.

"Well, that was kind of your own fault for not being alert enough." I said politely, answering his first question. "As a soldier, even if you're a conscript, you should've known that we would secure our perimeter." Even as a conscript, he should already know these basic, right?

"Saki, was it? The only people here are civilians going for a walk! And didn't you girls have advanced tech for identification?!" I mean, he's kind of right. But it never hurts to be extra alert, even a conscript should know that. As for our long range recon equipment, we might have cameras just about everywhere but there's only Moe manning it.

"Is that so? Well, speaking from experience as a conscript, we had no need to be extra alert. The Bremens constant artillery batteries were more than enough in the frontlines." R-really now, Sensei has c-combat experience? He has to given that he lost his left arm, and he wouldn't have beaten us elites so easily if he wasn't battle hardened!

"Oh? Well if it isn't the Sensei." We both turn to Moe's voice, looks like she's still upset with how he neutralized most of her toys. "Hmph, looks like the mine didn't get you." Okay, that's just too much from her.

"Moe, you mined the entire place, didn't you?! You could've harmed civilians like Sensei!"

"Huh?! It was standard procedure! For someone who hugs the rules, you should've known that!"

This is... unbecoming of us elites, in front of Sensei as well... we shouldn't be letting our petty squabbles get the best of us.

"Saki, Moe. What happened? I heard an explosion?" Oh thank goodness, Squad Leader is here.

"Eeek! It's Levi-Sensei." Miyu whimpered out, hiding behind Miyako occasionally sticking her head out to look at Sensei.

Sensei smiled as he saw Miyu, to which Miyu cowered back into hiding behind Squad Leader. I mean... those shots he made on her back when we were captured, even I would be scared if I got shot up like how Miyu did.

"Miyako, I bought provisions!" Sensei said as he looked at her, making the floating hands lower to his sides. "Seriously, if I were you, I would've just stayed in Valkyries prison." So he said, looking around our camp.

"As an elite, we're trained to be able to withstand these kinds of conditions." Squad Leader said with a sigh, then glaring at Levi-Sensei for saying such a thing. I mean... I'm upset at that remark as well.

"Yes, survival skills are a must for any SRT students. Pitching up tents, making a fire, we could do that easily." I followed up, letting Sensei know the extent of our expertise.

"Yeah, and we're barely in the wilderness here. We've got running water and electricity!" Moe, those don't count. But still, it's something we can use.

"Yes, and there's a lot of shade too so lookout isn't that bad." Miyu said with a small hint of joy.

"As you can see, Levi-Sensei. We've got things under control, and we have no need for your assistance. You may lea-"

"Nonsense, I know how little provisions us soldiers have in this exact situation." Levi-Sensei said with a sigh of annoyance, walking closer to Miyako and having those magical hands shove the three large bags of bentos to her chest. "All of us back then would've killed for this much delicious food, just to eat something other than maggot infested potatoes, vegetables, and hard as rock dried meat if we were lucky." You call that lucky?! That's horrible!

"I see... even the-"

Whatever Miyako was going to say, it wasn't coming out as I felt my stomach rumbling from hunger... they heard that?!

Levi-Sensei, along with my squadmates, all stared at me...

"Just take the damn food." He said, no, ordered Miyako. Having the floating hands fly down to gently drop the bag of much needed provisions, and then flying to his shadow and then sinking in. "I know what true starvation is like. Trust me, it's absolute hell." The way his face just darkened saying that...

"Seriously, you have more munitions that you will never get to use than food and supplies." Sensei said, staring at a missile battery and it's launcher... actually yeah! Who the heck thought to bring that thing instead of more provisions? We can't exactly eat that now, can't we?

"I see... then, thank you, Levi-Sensei."

"Hey! Those are Anti-aircraft missiles worth more than your life! Just think about how big it's boom is gonna be!" Seriously, how did Moe even get in SRT in the first place?!

"We can't buy anything since our student accounts were suspended... we're gonna starve here, forgotten." Miyu is being even more pessimistic than usual.

"That so? I'll talk to Rin about it later." But she does smile slightly at Sensei's words. "Anyway, just fill your stomachs. I'll go take a look around your base, I want to see how well it compares to our bases back in the war." He said, turning and walking around our camp.

And the bag of bentos he bought us. Reluctantly, we began opening up the bags and pulling out it's contents... these are-! These are all top quality, premium even! And he's just giving it to us?!

"N-no, he must've ulterior motives..." Miyako mutterer, drooling as she stared at the premium bento she's holding.

"He said h-he knows starvation... he isn't l-lying... I think." Miyu said with a smile full of gratitude.

"We're already starving enough so... might as well!" Yeah, I have to agree with Moe.

Most of the bentos were already heated... Sensei really thought about this, didn't he... I...

"I can't imagine a person with such unfortunate conditions to have any ulterior motives feeding us." I said, thinking back to what he said about eating basically rotten food.

And so, we dug in. Stuffing our mouths with food like pigs... an elite agent shouldn't be eating in such a disgraceful way, but... it's just so delicious! So fresh, filling our stomachs!

As we finished each of our chosen bentos, we sighed out in relief that we aren't hungry anymore. Hmm, looks like Levi-Sensei finished inspecting our camp.

"First of all, the command tent. The top should be a diagonal so water doesn't buildup when it rains collapsing the tent." We all listened on intently at his words, now that he's acting as a teacher actually teaching us stuff. Even as elites, we should be open to any new lessons or improvements, especially from a veteran like Levi-Sensei.

"Our communications equipment and ammunition stock are all under there." Miyako noted in alert. Yeah, it would be disastrous if those were submerged under water.

"The trenches we were in had underground living or hiding places, I saw that you don't."

"Hmm, is it to hide from the massive explosions of artillery and bombs?" Moe asked with a smirk of confidence.

"Yeah, exactly for that." Moe seemed to hate him, but she practically brightened smiling at Levi-Sensei's words. This is the first time her obsession with explosions mattered in a conversation.

"Isn't that what bunkers are for? I mean, couldn't you guys just make a long line of bunkers?" I ask in confusion. "Yeah, it would be much more secure that way!"

"We would've if the Bremens were blind and didn't see us building the bunkers. But no, they would've attacked and killed us if we did before we could even start." Oh... I see. I didn't take to account their lack of halos.

"Moving on, those tents you're sleeping on won't last long. Especially if it rains." Well what do you expect us to do?

"We can't exactly cut down trees to build a house, Levi-Sensei." Miyako said with a sigh of reluctant acceptance.

"Don't worry about that, I have an idea." He does?! He then holds his hand out somewhere in the middle of the camp, probably casting magic as he's closing his eyes to focus.

"Reila, help me out here, please." He muttered to himself. We all jumped back in surprise as two person sized stone hands appeared on his sides.

We feel a rumbling under the earth disrupting our sense of balance, with Moe just wobbling and dropping to her butt.

A bunch of tree roots shot out the ground, extending upwards from where it appeared forming a tree. Then the branches... it started forming into a tree house... four large squares were formed, enough for us to live in. Each of them are connected with bridges, with some windows.

"It wouldn't be a problem if I made trees grow faster, right?" At his question, we could only nod monotonously.

Magic... is truly amazing.

We all stared at the natural tree house, in disbelief and bewilderment, eyes wide and jaws dropped. I think there are some fruits sticking out the branches, and the cluster of leaves serve as natural camouflage...

"Sensei... thank you." I think Miyu speaks for all of us offering her gratitude to Levi-Sensei.

/

Levi P.O.V

Out of curiosity, I opened up KivoMap to see which students that I've so far met were nearby, and I saw Haruka's halo... looking around until I aligned with the direction on the map, I see that she's in a slum or abandoned ruins...

Why would she be there?

That's not really important, I thought as I started running towards where she would be.

[Phase Step]

I blinked and then started running and jumping across rooftops again, just like Mister August did everytime we saw him back in Prehevil.

Running, sprinting as fast as I could to the edge of a building, I jump as high as my feet could. I come up short, but I managed to catch myself on a window ledge.

I bring my feet up at the wall, gripping the ledge as hard as my fingers could while I brought one of my legs up, pulling myself into inside the building.

My body and vision spun as I fell inside, seeing a purple girl with a purple Bremen uniform looking down on me with worry and concern.

"Levi-Sensei, how did yo-?!" Haruka shouted out in disbelief, taking some step backs and dropping that watering pot she was holding.

"Hey Haruka, long time no see!" I said with a smile, bringing my hands up as a greeting. I then pushed myself up, dusting my clothing for any dust or dirt. "I was worried, seeing that you were in this kind of place!" I said, walking over to her side. She tries stepping away, but I didn't let her as I wrapped my arm around her.

"You didn't murder those worms, Haruka. It's simply a fact of life that vermin get stepped on." I said, patting her back softly in a reassuring way. After a minute, I step back to give her some space.

"Y-yeah... just like m-"

I interrupt whatever she was going to say with a flick to her forehead, to which she winced back with a yelp.

"Enough about looking down on yourself, I'll tell Aru if you keep doing that." At my words, Haruka's expression darkens in fear. She brings her head down, slightly nodding as she slowly looked back up.

Someone like her wouldn't want who she consider to be good friends to be worried.

"Sensei, how did you find me?" Tracking magic, convenient right? "Yes... yes it is."

"So... what is this place? Why a slum of all places?" I ask, looking around and taking in how decrepit the entire place looks, the pots with plants slightly bringing some life to this otherwise dead place.

"This is w-where I grow my weed, Sensei." Haruka said while looking around nervously, her hands fidgeting for something to occupy it. "S-sorry, it's m-my fault that you came to s-such a fil-!"

"Ah, ah, ah! Stop that or I'll tell Aru!" I told her, wiggling my fingers sideways as I brought it up. To which she promptly stopped her self deprecating rambling.

I start slowly looking over the place for more details. The pots with soil and weeds all around in a pattern, there's some other plant with what looks like teeth, and... is that a box of worms with soil?

"Y-yes Sensei. I c-couldn't just k-kill them when they h-had lives of their own." Haruka said with a hint of sadness and regret. I see... that's wonderful! "It... is?"

I walk over to where the box of worms is, kneeling down and speaking to them.

[Mastery Over Vermin]

"Has Haruka treated you guys well?" I ask the worms.

Yes, Master! The Purple Human gave us lots of space!

She gave us plenty of water!

She could've just killed us like how many other humans have done with our kind.

As the worms spoke so highly about Haruka, their wiggling became more excited and rapid. Moving around back and fort above the soil.

"Great! You guys wanna stay with her, or go back to the forest?"

The Purple Human has already done enough sparing our short lives!

Yes! She shouldn't burden herself with vermin like us!

Master, please tell her that we will haunt whoever makes the our precious Purple Human cry!

I couldn't help but smile at how much the worms like her.

"Yeah, I'll do just that." To which the worms all cheered in joy.

I stand back up, turning to Haruka who looks fearful yet in anticipation for something.

"They love you, "Our Precious Purple Human" they said!" She widens her eyes in shock and surprise, her lips trembling to a smile as my words sunk into her. "Yeah, but they want to return to the forest you found them in. They don't want to make their queen work for them."

"Q-queen?! Levi-Sensei... I'm no queen, they shouldn't be-"

"Haruka, if they see you crying, they're going to haunt me. They said they'll hunt anyone who makes you cry, that's how much they like you!"

Haruka freezes in disbelief, probably unsure of what to do with that information. And finally, I see a genuine smile in her face. Not of self deprecation, of accepting defeat, but of real happiness. Haruka, you look so pretty smiling like that!

"R-really? Thank you, Sensei." She said with a nod, still smiling as she did. Haruka then walks over to the worms and kneels. "Thank you, all of you. And... I'm sorry, but I'm bringing you guys back to the forest tomorrow. It's already dark outside." She told the worms in an apologetic tone.

Not a problem, Purple Human!

It just means we can stay with you a bit more!

I put a hand over Haruka's shoulder, getting her attention as she stood back up.

"They're fine with it." I said, to which she nods happily.

"That's good. Well, Levi-Sensei... I have something to show you." Alright, go right ahead.

Haruka then picks up a paper bag, gesturing for me to follow along as she opened the door and left the room. And so, I did.

"That was pretty back there, your own personal garden. Even prettier than what Trinity had." At my praise, she looks baffled.

"Sensei, It's not that good. It's nothing like the beautiful rosy gardens of Trinity." That's exactly it. "Huh?"

"They made their own to look pretty for everyone else, those damn rich girls. But you? Haruka, you grew those with love, didn't you?" That dedication is something not even I have. It's something rare and uncommon among just about everyone.

"I... yeah, I did." There, everything is so bright when you aren't talking down yourself, isn't it, Haruka? "Yeah... but there's still this one thing." She said, opening up the paperbag and pulling out some grinded weeds and... two smoking pipes.

"Y-you said s-smoking weeds make people happy and c-confident, right?" Haruka said, looking at me with tired eyes with an expectant smile. "I... I want to be h-happy, relaxed, o-outgoing like y-you are, Levi-Sensei.

... What am I doing teaching a kid about this?

"Here, Sensei. I researched about it online, it's like this, right?" Haruka said as her smile widened, handing a pipe loaded with weed grains.

... I take the pipe, putting it between my lips as I held it with two fingers.

[Pyromancy Trick]

I light it up, and then inhaling it's aroma while exhaling without letting the smoke into my lungs.

"Wow, magic is truly amazing!" Haruka said excitedly, and then refocusing on the second pipe. She starts loading it with weed grains, and then turning it around and putting it in her mou-

[Steal]

I snatched the pipe out of her hands, then crushing it with my hand.

Haruka remains frozen, her hands not moving as if she's still holding the pipe. Her expression also frozen, but slowly trembling as she turned her head to look at me with a darkened expression.

She stutters and stammers, trying to say something as her body trembled and she embraced herself. Dropping to her knees, she looks up to me sobbing with tears leaking out.

"L-Levi... Sensei... W-why?" She cried out pathetically between sobs.

...

I take the pipe out of my mouth, blowing out the smoke as I felt my mind cooling down and relaxing.

"You don't need this, Haruka. I can't allow it."

[Mind Read]

Why... because you don't want me to be happy? To be sociable? I... I'm already miserable as I am! The only ones looking up to me are worms for goodness sake!

She's trying to contain herself as she sobbed out and her tears leaked. Haruka looks like she wants to scream and shout at me... but she can't bring herself to do so.

"You don't want to smoke, Haruka. It will ruin you, your life. Just as it did mine." I say that, but I'm clearly having the time of my life smoking this shit.

Lies! You're so reliable, so skilled, a good leader, everyone... everyone likes you so much! You just like looking down on me, like those other people!

I see... so this is her true pain.

"Opioids... at first they made me feel happy, even with everything bad happening around me." I paused, inhaling the weeds contents once more and them blowing out the smoke. "Once it's off, once the withdrawal comes. You're just fucked. You can't move, can't think straight, you'll be scrambling desperately looking for more." As I said that, I felt my mind getting more relaxed.

"B-but my l-life is already over... I m-might as w-well." That's nonsense, and you already know it. "What... just w-what are you s-saying." I may look alright to you, but I can't even seperate my thoughts from my mouth!

For obvious reasons, Haruka looked at me as if I, and I kind of am, was deranged and crazy. Yeah, I like to blame that on the Moon God, but it's probably just me.

"But that aside, you think your life is already over? Despite having only lived 15 out of your 70 or so lifespan?"

"Y-yes... I-"

"Then what about, Problem Solver? What about Aru, Mutsuki, and Kayoko?" Haruka stiffens at my mention of her friends, she looks like she's thinking about something... "Is life not worth living for them? For your beloved Aru-sama?"

"It is! For Aru-sama!" She raised her voice talking about Aru as she stood back up, determination and loyalty in her face. "For Aru-sama who saved me, who comforted me, who protected me!"

"Yes, your almighty Aru-sama cares for you. She loves you, Haruka." Her expression of sorrow, anger, and feelings of self hate disappeared at my words. "If you smoke this... then all of that, Problem Solver and your friends. They're all gone." I said, walking closer to her as I dropped the pipe, and wrapped my arms around Haruka in a tight embrace.

"So, that's why... you shouldn't ruin your own life like I did with opioids, Haruka. You have friends that love you... don't throw it away."

"... Yes, Levi-Sensei... I w-won't."

/

A/N: It took me longer to write this since I couldn't get myself in the mood in the hospital(my Grandpa got hospitalized, he bragged about it only being the second time in his entire life, tough guy ain't he?)

Also, I wanted to write in a segment getting back into Schale and doing some stuff, but I think I'll either just off screen that or put it on the next chapter.

There's also the thing with the former Kaiser employee girls(give me some names I can use for their representatives since I suck at coming up with names.)

There's also the events happening between the main volumes but I don't know in which order they happen(I think the Cherry Blossom Festival event happens before Izuna bond story since I haven't read that event yet, but I'll just adjust it in the future)

Not me realizing I have to write the Ivan Kupala Event(which I'm just about to start reading later) before Millennium... There's still the Abydos Resort Restoration(which I also haven't yet read) but ehh, that's a problem for future me.

I don't have a reference for Yume's personality, so I'm just combining Nonomi and Hoshino's.