There are many perspectives on Fectom General Academy.

It is a school of elites established by The Chairman.

It is an educational institution created to train S-Ranks.

It is an organization prepared as a third countermeasure against angels.

From the sudden destructive actions against Kisou Academy to now, Fectom General Academy has more than proven its strength.

Among them, Terukami Mizuhi’s achievements are particularly remarkable.

Her S-Rank activities—especially in dungeon rescues—have greatly raised her reputation.

Thus, when people hear the name Fectom General Academy and are asked who the strongest is, they would immediately name her.

However, those who truly know Fectom General Academy would give a different answer.

――That academy is home to many monsters.

That is precisely why it has drawn attention from both Kisou Academy and Mikage Academy.

“Mizuhi-senpai.”

“Yeah.”

Just calling her name is enough.

Or perhaps, even that isn’t necessary.

Their opponent—Sorciera—is a monster that uses the outlier ability of interference.

But Narou Kei was sprinting forward with perfect calm.

His thinking speed increased, processing the enemy’s data within a second.

『Her abilities and body are Sorciera’s. It’s the initial form, but assume she can use the same techniques as us.』

『Understood.』

He closed the distance and lunged forward.

Sorciera deployed a barrage formation to intercept Kei, who had leapt in as the vanguard.

However, at that moment, the space behind Sorciera distorted from intense heat.

Flames burst forth—and in that instant, Hikari appeared, wings of light unfolding behind her.

The incineration of distance.

It was a feat possible only for an S-Rank.

Thanks to Mizuhi’s ability, Hikari had instantly teleported behind Sorciera and reshaped her two wings into spear-like forms.

“Here I go!”

The wings of light shot toward Sorciera.

At the same time, Kei’s dagger glinted before her eyes.

Even if one attack was blocked, the other would deal a fatal blow.

Sorciera instantly ceased her counterattack and deployed a barrier covering her whole body.

Both the dagger and light-wings clashed against the barrier.

“Leave the rest to you!”

“Got it.”

Sorciera, now motionless within her barrier, was targeted by two gun barrels.

The bullets loaded were imbued with the concept of incineration.

The bullets of flame, capable of reaching even phenomena, were fired simultaneously.

“—!”

Sorciera’s expression froze for a split second.

In that moment, Hikari and Kei leapt to either side.

As if swapping positions, the bullets struck directly.

A massive explosion erupted, consuming the entire area in fire.

As black smoke billowed up, Hikari returned to Mizuhi’s side and spoke while watching it.

“Did we get her…!?”

“Ah, you said it…”

Kei reflexively called her out.

Even in front of Sorciera, they remained composed.

And so, when Sorciera emerged unscathed from the smoke, they didn’t panic.

“We definitely felt it hit.”

“I heard Sorciera has incredible physical regeneration. If we want to kill her, we need to destroy her Demonsgear…”

Kei offered his advice.

“Destroy the Demonsgear, huh… But if that’s a fake, would destroying it even stop her?”

At Mizuhi’s words, Kei paused to consider, then replied.

“To me, she didn’t seem human. Just like back then.”

“…When we fought Rakka.”

Kei and Mizuhi had once confronted a similar fake.

“…There must be some sort of core forming that thing. For Rakka-san, it was a dungeon core. If we can precisely destroy that…”

“I see… Impressive as always, Kei. You saw that with just a few attacks—reliable as ever.”

“No, I’m just glad I could help.”

With that, Kei readied his dagger again.

His expression was serious.

『Kyaa＞＜ He praised meee＞＜』

『Good for youー＾＾』

『Didn’t you just repeat my advice? …Oh, how was it?』

『Stop summarizing like a forum thread.』

Within his extended mental space, Kei calmly constructed battle logic.

Fighting Sorciera was originally unthinkable.

Yet his thoughts showed no signs of unrest.

“So the weak point’s inside her!”

Hikari nodded as she overheard their conversation.

Puffing her chest with confidence, she declared:

“I feel like I can totally break stuff like that! Let me handle it!”

At her words, Mizuhi and Kei exchanged glances.

Just as they were about to respond, a silver barrage rained down on them.

“!”

Mizuhi intercepted it with a wall of flame.

Then she shouted—

“Give it a try! I’ll support you!”

“Thank you so much!”

Hikari thanked her and took off with her light-wings.

She observed Sorciera, who had just launched the barrage.

“…Hmm, maybe there?”

Within just a few seconds, Hikari had sensed the subtle anomaly inside Sorciera.

“Alright!”

She yelled and dived straight down.

Sorciera noticed and moved to intercept.

But the silver chain coiled around her arm disrupted her movement.

“—Fufu, you let your guard down.”

There stood Kei, subtly using Sorciera’s own powers from a hidden position no one had noticed.

Sorciera instantly interfered with the chains and broke free.

But that brief instant was enough.

“Here comes the breakthrough!”

Not even a second.

But for Hikari, it was a golden moment—enough to assure victory.

She propelled herself like a jet with her wings of light, closing in on Sorciera.

Then, reshaping one wing like a lance again, she hurled it.

Sorciera deployed another barrier.

But the wing changed into a bluish-purple hue, breaking through it with no resistance.

“!?”

“Eh?”

Both the fake and the real one watching from afar gasped in shock.

Kei, who had already prepared his next move assuming the attack would be blocked, was also stunned.

『Didn’t the fake say she could use the same techniques as me? That was the same strength barrier as my initial form, right?』

『…Eh, what the heck is that, scary…』

As even the real one was surprised, Hikari’s wing closed in on Sorciera.

Sorciera calmly reconstructed a smaller but sturdier barrier.

It was likely the same behavior as the real one.

A small shield less than a meter wide, but strong enough to block Hikari’s attack.

It should have been.

“Take this!”

At Hikari’s cry, the tip of her wing glowed red.

Then it twisted unnaturally, forming a curved trajectory.

It turned at a right angle before the barrier, then again at the next one.

Avoiding several layers of shields like lightning, it finally pierced Sorciera’s left shoulder.

Unerring.

There’s no other word for it—an attack that perfectly destroyed the core embedded in Sorciera’s left shoulder.

“…!”

With her core destroyed, Sorciera staggered.

Trying to raise her scythe while clutching her left shoulder, she crumbled like sand.

“Justice wins again!”

Confirming Sorciera’s death, Hikari spun around and struck a pose.

Mizuhi sighed in relief and ran up to her.

Kogare also rushed over from hiding, half in tears.

“Well done! I didn’t think you could actually beat her…”

“Ah, thank youuu! I didn’t expect to resolve this on day one…”

“Dark Sorciera… was a formidable foe.”

Hikari wiped sweat from her brow.

Then she looked down at the sand around her feet.

“So she was a fake after all. A real one wouldn’t turn to sand!”

“Yeah. Besides… the real one’s stronger.”

“Th-then maybe the Enforcer’s words were right after all… How should I write the report? We took her down without even knowing her objective…”

“‘Justice triumphed!’—that should be enough, right?”

“Is that a proper report?”

Mizuhi chuckled softly.

To which Hikari replied proudly, “Yes it is!”

As the girls chatted, Kei was deep in mental discussion.

『The fake’s deadー! Killed by Hikari-chan of all peopleー!』

『That light… and that power… no way…』

『Stop making it sound so ominous! Just tell us!』

『Maybe I’m mistaken. It’s something that shouldn’t even be possible. Yeah, it must’ve been a fluke＾＾』

『You never make mistakes like that! Tell us! I’m freaking out—what was that light!?』

『Now now, no tantrums, my liege. I’ll buy you snacks later.』

『Creepy lolicon, scram!』

The intense debate among the lolicon, the obsessive fan, and the pervert accelerated.

But as usual, if the topic wasn’t a pretty girl, it wouldn’t go anywhere productive.

“So the case is solved… for now?”

“Yeah.”

At Kei’s words, Mizuhi nodded.

She crouched before the sand, tilting her head.

“We should call in the board’s investigation team. No way this is normal sand.”

“Ah, can I take a little bit home? As a souvenir for defeating the fake?”

“Hmm, not sure. What do you think, Kogare-sensei?”

Suddenly asked, Kogare yelped in surprise.

“Eeh!? …I-I don’t think that’s a good idea. Plus, it’s dangerous…”

“I see…”

Hikari drooped, shoulders slumping.

Then—

“Sorry I’m late!”

A voice echoed from the sky, and they all looked up.

A massive dragon hovered above.

“Oh, here she is.”

“Watarai-san… why now of all times…”

Unaware of Kogare’s awkward glare, Ryuuko landed before the four of them.

With unusual cheer, she hopped down from Baltius.

“Ahaha, sorry! I overslept. My clock was frozen solid when I woke up!”

“Seriously…?”

“BUT! As S-Rank Watarai Ryuuko, I won’t miss a chance to redeem my honor!”

“…You’re getting remedial training later.”

“Whyyyy!?”

As Kogare looked exasperated, Ryuuko fished something out of her expanded storage.

With a smug grin, she thrust it forward.

“Check this out!”

It was a bag full of sand.

All four recognized it immediately.

“Is that…”

“Fufufu… Actually—”

Ryuuko threw up a peace sign, still beaming.

“I defeated Sorciera! Though she was obviously a fake! Case closed! …So, Kei, don’t I totally look like an S-Rank now?”

“…Yeah, I guess.”

Kei nodded with a conflicted expression.

Unaware of this, Ryuuko bashfully scratched her head.

“Mizuhi-senpai, this means…”

“Yeah. No doubt.”

As the giddy Ryuuko—who had no idea what just happened—stood there, the other four exchanged solemn nods.

“The fake wasn’t alone.”

■

At the same time, on the outskirts of Chroma’s tourist district.

In an alleyway with few people, Rokuhara stretched out.

“Had a bit of fun, huh. Guess I’ll go meet up with President Daiya.”

“Eeeh!? I’m exhausted… Leader, can we have dinner first?”

“You already ate. You had three bowls of ramen…”

With a sigh, Rokuhara began walking.

Eina watched him and said—

“Then how about a late-night snack?”

“What do you mean ‘then’… You’ll get fat, y’know.”

“Heh-heh! I’m Demonsgear, I don’t gain weight!”

“…”

“What’s with that look? Wait, am I getting fat!?”

Rokuhara didn’t answer.

He said nothing and kept walking down the alley.

“Hey, Leader! Answer meee!”

Whining pitifully, Eina chased after Rokuhara.

The place they had just left behind was littered with the aftermath of a fierce battle—and a great quantity of sand.