Chapter 25

1.

“Soon, it will really be over.”

I could sense it intuitively; the anarchy covering Kiburatos was about to end soon.

The long month of chaos is concluding. This meant one thing and one thing alone.

Prologue.

The true story of this stage is about to begin.

That’s why I understood the timing was crucial. Now that the story has officially begun, I too must act more busily than before.

The time to review my plans and goals again, as well as reconsider my future activities and territories.

Compared to the early days, I now have sufficient funds, and my network and influence have grown significantly. At this point, when I have useful assets at my disposal, I need to consider how to conduct my activities.

“I should start expanding my territory gradually.”

First of all, it won’t do to keep operating in Millennium and D.U. only. Now that Sentum Tower is recovering, the same will apply to restoring order in each district and D.U.

There’s no reason to focus only on the central area and Millennium anymore, so it’s fine to expand activities to Gehenna and Trinity as well.

It will also be possible to operate in the smaller academies located in between. Expanding these operational bases will provide justification to interfere in the first main storyline location, Abidos.

However, there’s the issue that I might not be able to involve myself in minor matters as I have been so far.

“But if only at non-mainstory times, it’ll be similar, I suppose.”

The period when I’ll be truly busy will be during the ‘mainstory’ phase when the teacher becomes directly active and at intervals during the ‘event story’ phase.

So, all I have to do is align my activities around these times. With the Web Shooter, if I plan my schedule well, taking into account traveling times, there won’t be much of a problem.

In the future, I plan to produce and use even more equipment besides the Web Shooter. At that point, I can move even faster than I do now, so it shouldn’t be an issue.

“As for funding, it’s going smoothly so far, but thinking about the future, it’s still insufficient.”

To stop the numerous calamities and events that could arise in the distant, or possibly near, future, I’ll need to create all kinds of equipment. No matter how much money I have, it will never be enough for that purpose…

I’ll think about that later.

I have some leeway now, and it’s not an area that requires immediate consideration.

I’ve already commissioned a Captain America shield and a Silk exclusive hero suit with all my current funds. I’ve also entrusted some small equipment.

For the time being, I should first adapt and devise ways to use them, and also check other possibilities.

Like that, for hours, I was lost in thought in a corner of my room, repeatedly writing and erasing things in my notebook.

Thinking. Thinking. Thinking.

Numerous thoughts arose and disappeared in my mind as decent plans gradually formed.

Such as Silk and Nanashi’s respective activity ranges.

Nanashi’s commission operation areas.

Or thoughts about my relationship with the teacher.

Of course, occasionally random thoughts would pop into my head, but that was inevitable.

I was lost in constant contemplation until the incident alert “beep” sounded just before it.

“Really, it’s quite a difficult consideration.”

Selection and focus.

Knowing that I can’t take on everything in Kiburatos made these considerations all the more difficult. It’s part of the essential struggle of a hero.

Nevertheless, I must make a decision.

All I have to do is use my choices wisely and lay the groundwork to reach my desired goals.

That’s all I need.

“The teacher should be sufficient for encompassing everything.”

I should be enough as a ‘kindly neighbor’ within reach, helping the citizens.

2.

Who was the biggest victim in this anarchy incident?

Was it the small academies located on the outskirts of Kiburatos in the difficult terrain, completely cut off from communication and infrastructure, struggling to get through each day?

Or the leaders of the large academies who couldn’t sleep properly due to the chaos caused by the large student population?

Or the citizens whose daily lives were disrupted by villains going berserk?

Or even Silk, the hero who had to clean up the random and unpredictable incidents?

No. All of them are wrong.

The place that suffered the greatest damage in this incident was none other than the central government of Kiburatos.

The Student Council. It was precisely there.

Without their guiding superhuman figure, dealing with incidents erupting city-wide and bearing the pressure from all academies in this incident, while maintaining the city.

Each day was nothing less than a disaster.

The disappearance of the Student Council President and the shutdown of Sentum Tower were nothing short of a catastrophe for those affiliated with the Student Council.

What should we do?

Why did this happen?

Why must we endure such things?

Thrown into unexpected chaos, the Student Council was tossed around like windblown balloons, swinging this way and that.

Though many of the capable individuals gathered there ensured they didn’t completely collapse, the aftereffects of this incident were inevitable, and naturally, everyone became exhausted.

“I want to quit!! I want to quit violently!!!”

“Why doesn’t the work end? Oh, what is there after the work is done? After that, more work comes. Haha!”

“Be good. Be good. Be good. Be good. Be good. Be good. Be good. Be good. Be good.”

“Kiieeeeek─!!”

“Please, anyone, save me…”

Already, rational minds were wandering the Student Council.

But as she watched this scene, Lin Nanagami, the Senior Administrative Officer, smiled softly, thinking, “Indeed, the situation has somewhat improved.”

If others had heard her, they might have thought, “Finally, the Senior Administrative Officer has lost her mind too!” But Lin Nanagami remembered the state of the Student Council at the beginning of the crisis.

Back then, including herself, everyone was so submerged in despair they couldn’t even voice such complaints.

Now, at least they can voice such words.

“Is this too, all thanks to that person, Silk?”

Recalling the events of the past during those chaotic times, she thinks of the incident when Kaiser PMC “invaded” the Central Autonomous District under the guise of stabilizing the chaos.

Many students of the Student Council, including herself, were bursting with anger over how to respond to this unwarranted suppression.

They couldn’t sleep properly, their minds were drained, and they couldn’t make sound judgments, making them feel like they were about to faint.

But at that moment, a certain person appeared.

Silk, now known as the hero of Kiburatos.

The person who is now mentioned everywhere and perhaps is currently the most famous in Kiburatos.

She suddenly appeared, took over the maintenance of order that the Student Council should have done, without any rewards, merely executing justice.

Since then, somehow, the city’s chaos started to decrease, and the duties the Student Council had to handle were greatly reduced. Consequently, many students in the Student Council today support Silk’s activities.

Lin understands this fact but pretends to ignore it.

Given that she couldn’t stop it even if she knew, and even as a savior-like figure, there was nothing strange about it.

If Silk hadn’t been there, Lin and the others in the Student Council would have remained in a weakened state until the “Teacher” prepared by the Student Council President came. Moreover, more members might have left the Student Council than now, and unforeseen problems could have arisen.

Thus, Lin, officially as the Acting Student Council President and Senior Administrative Officer, publicly denounced Silk for her vigilante activities beyond the legal system. However, in private, she somewhat acknowledged her.

At least, her skills and character.

Putting aside her methods, her actions for the citizens were commendable, so that’s why she doesn’t give desperate orders to capture Silk at all costs.

“Anyway, it’s not someone who can be captured these days.”

Silk’s abilities have grown day by day, and it’s common for her to finish the situation before Valkyrie arrives and vanish. Watching Valkyrie fail at this every time has become one of Lin’s minor pleasures.

“One day, I might meet her.”

Since Silk continues her activities, one day there might be an event that connects her to the Student Council.

Lin concludes her thoughts on Silk there.

What she needs to consider now…

“Teacher, are you there?”

The solution prepared by the Student Council President for this crisis.

The time to meet that existence was drawing near.

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