Chapter 107

1.

The second main story of [Blue Archive], titled ‘Pavanne of the Winding-Up Flower,’ takes place at Millennium Academy.

Most of the main and supporting characters are from Millennium, and the storyline does not venture beyond the academy. With the exception of a teacher in a special position, there is virtually no outside help from beyond Millennium.

Why is that?

Millennium Academy, one of the three great academies of Kiburatos, is known for maintaining a neutral stance, which means not being particularly close to any side.

Moreover, as a collective of intelligent and wise individuals, they take pride in being able to resolve internal matters without external help.

One might argue that Millennium, due to its neutral stance, is the cleanest among the three academies. However, no academy can be purely flawless.

Although it wasn’t explicitly stated in the original work, from observing this world as if it were a reality, I am certain of one thing:

Millennium Science School is a place where geniuses gather, some of whom could become villains if things go awry.

What does that mean?

If an internal conflict arises at Millennium, it would most likely take the form of an intellectual battle.

Given that I don’t fall into the category of a genius, I wouldn’t easily survive such a conflict.

Even now, while just hiding my true identity, I feel as if I’m walking a tightrope every day. Jumping into something like the main story would lead to unimaginable consequences.

I can’t predict it easily, but it certainly won’t be a positive situation for me.

It’s even possible that this might accelerate the second chapter of the main story set within Millennium.

Alternatively, Rio might suspect my true identity and put more pressure on me.

…

Such thoughts are possible.

Perhaps, I could benefit from this storyline.

If the conflict turns into an intellectual battle, I could potentially gain an advantage, couldn’t I?

I have a lot of colleagues.

I’ve met good people, and I’ve been able to do what’s right through these connections. And so, this situation would be no different.

Could I possibly counterattack Rio or Big Sister with the help of these people?

At this point, I realized I needed advice from someone wiser than myself.

“What do you think?”

“…It’s too dangerous of a gamble. A perilous challenge that could put all of us in danger. If anyone makes a mistake, everything will collapse. Rio wouldn’t let anyone who attacks her live. Such is Big Sister.”

“I understand.”

Rio, the president, is undoubtedly a superhuman being. If someone obstructs her beliefs or is deemed necessary to be removed, she will execute that decision without hesitation. If the world is in danger of destruction, she would break any laws to protect it.

In this sense, she fits the role of a leader and a guardian, yet she also has the potential to become a tyrant.

Himari’s concern is that if we provoke such a tyrant, Rio won’t leave us alone.

However,

“‘A mistake,’ you know.”

“…”

“It’s highly unlikely that any of you will make one.”

My bold statement left Himari, seated in her wheelchair, and Hare, who joined the meeting via hologram, momentarily speechless. Beside Hare’s hologram, other members of Veritas, including Chihiro from the Engineering Department and Defenders members Utaha and Hibiki, remained silent, lost in deep thought.

It was as good as unanimous consent.

“There is no need to decide immediately. I merely wanted to gather thoughts on this.”

Silently nodding, the Defender members acknowledged my words.

Since Rio has started to increase her vigilance and surveillance, we hold these private meetings without anyone noticing.

This is the regular meeting of ‘Defenders,’ established with the idea from Veritas and Himari that remote communication should suffice if physical meetings become impossible.

Breaking the first silence after my statement was Haru from Veritas.

“President Rio—Big Sister is definitely dangerous. Right now she may only be monitoring us, but who knows what will happen next? We all know she doesn’t leave anyone who is her equal alive. I think she will attack us sooner or later.”

“So, you’re suggesting we attack first?”

“Rather than that, let’s gather information first. The essence of Hiroyo’s words was less about striking Rio and more about finding ways for us to benefit.”

I nodded in agreement. While I did want to strike a blow, gaining advantages without necessarily attacking was fine too.

The next speaker was Chihiro from Veritas.

“Indeed, our information on Rio, the president, is severely lacking. In that regard, this suggestion is undoubtedly interesting. Personally, I think Rio will definitely cross a clear line at some point.”

“…Hiroyo mentioned that last time, didn’t he? Rio, that woman, will someday cause a big event.”

“Yeah. To stop the destruction of the world, right? Hmm…”

Given that the Defender members, including Himari, knew beforehand that I had ‘some’ memories from the future, there were no questions about it in the middle. They merely absorbed the fact that my memories formed the basis of this suggestion and delved deeper into contemplation.

It was, indeed, a difficult decision.

In a sense, this could be considered plotting a rebellion. The position of an academy president is comparable to that of a president of a nation. Placing plans to harm one could be seen as a coup from a certain perspective.

However…

“Eventually, we will inevitably clash with President Rio. It’s a certainty.”

“…”

“Hmm. Difficult to deny, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Naturally.”

Utaha muttered softly. She was probably referring to when Touka attacked me.

“There’s no other way. After all, the opposite of justice isn’t ‘evil,’ it could also be ‘another justice.'”

“Oh. That’s quite a cool saying…”

“Are you some kind of quote generator? No wonder your fans go wild.”

“…No, I just said it. Let’s move on.”

Anyway,

Perhaps, Rio has already sensed it.

That the greatest opponent she will face is not a Millennium student or a teacher, but me.

‘We will inevitably collide, as our paths diverge.’

Even if we don’t know the future, even without precognition,

It’s something we all ‘instinctively’ know.

The path Rio is walking on appears to be draped in justice, but it is different from ours. It is inevitable that we will clash at the end of her path.

“I think we have a few days to think about it. Please take your time, rationally and wisely.”

I myself am not certain about this decision. I’ve merely stumbled upon one methodology.

So, my smarter, rational, and wiser colleagues must think this through for me.

“…It’s not a bad suggestion, is it? I feel like if you decide, everyone will just follow.”

“I’m the field worker, so paperwork might be a bit tricky.”

“Is it just because you’re lazy…?”

“Haha. Never!”

“…”

“…”

Caught.

But it’s not the only reason.

A just individual must be wise.

An ignorant person talking about justice is not much different from a madman obsessed with it. Not all issues can be solved with mere courage.

Thus, sometimes there is a need for someone who can observe from a distance.

Because I cannot be certain that my view, seeing everything from close quarters, isn’t narrow.

Of course, I didn’t phrase it like this, but…

“Do it. Hiroyo doesn’t understand such things.”

“Pfft. Alright, young lady. I’ll do it.”

“…Himari-senpai, isn’t Hiroyo being a bit too soft on him?”

“Agreed. At this rate, he’ll be giving up his liver and gallbladder.”

“Ahh! Just tell him to go out with them already!”

Ignoring the complaints of others, I quickly wrapped up today’s meeting.

2.

Immediately after the bustling Defender meeting concluded,

In the supernatural special taskforce office filled with silence, there were three of us: me, Himari, and Amy sleeping on the floor nearby in a half-n*ked state.

A space that had become so familiar that it felt like ‘home’ now.

And the dear friends who share this space.

Despite spending only a few months, we had grown so close that it felt strange without each other.

Himari, Amy,

All were precious to me as friends and colleagues.

In fact, they were like family.

Initially, I merely viewed them as my favourite ‘characters,’ but now my feelings have evolved to genuinely love them as real people.

Simply put, I am gradually perceiving this world as my ‘reality.’

While I’ve never considered it purely fiction, there was an undeniable sense of distance.

“The more I live, the more I want to protect precious things.”

Himari glanced at me with a gentle smile, almost questioning, ‘Really?’

“I don’t know if I can protect everything, but the desire to protect something feels… really good. Maybe this sense of humanity, responsibility, obligation—these emotions are what make us human.”

To put it simply, the feeling I’m experiencing now is the sensation of ‘being alive.’

My days in this world have been a history of struggle, survival, pain, and anguish.

Overcoming and blocking all these waves, I have reached this point. Looking around, all that remains are the people, and the grand goals I aim to achieve.

“So, I suppose that’s why I thought about it so much before.”

“You didn’t want to abandon the Game Development Department kids, did you?”

“Maybe. Every time that option crossed my mind, it was like a triangle in my heart was scratching at me.”

This could be referred to as guilt and the cry of conscience.

The path of turning one’s back on others for oneself begins here.

All injustice and harshness start with such ‘aversion.’

That’s why I agonized over the choice. That’s why I searched for a fortune teller—to prove that my choice was the right one.

“Ultimately, it’s all about people. Remaining myself, doing this work—all of it.”

“Hehe. Then, Hiroyo has made the right decision.”

“Is that so?”

Reason, wisdom, rationality, efficiency, perfection.

These are the typical values emphasized at Millennium.

But they are unnecessary values in the field.

Not all cases move rationally or reasonably. Those who commit evil and illegal acts operate based on opposite values.

We cannot expect rationality and reason from such people.

Sometimes things can only be resolved through emotion.

I’ve recently gained this understanding.

“Apparently, one cannot become a perfect hero with just great power and lofty dreams.”

“There’s no need to pursue perfection, is there? I think Hiroyo is doing just fine as he is?”

“Thank you, senpai. But…”

A hero must always be a growing entity.

To bear the tasks of the distant future, I couldn’t remain stagnant.

More robust, more perfect.

“The destination on the path I wish to take is incredibly far.”

Why did I love Iron Man?

Because, despite his rationality and efficiency, he was someone who knew what a hero should do. He wasn’t perfect as a human, but as a hero, he was ‘nearly perfect.’

I admire him, so I walk the same path, believing that Millennium is the place where that dream can be realized.

“There will be no such thing as the method to create the best game. It can’t be defined because there is no one way to reach perfection.”

“You mean ‘<G.Bible>‘?”

“But the process can be defined.”

Love games.

This was the method written in ‘G.Bible’ for making a great game.

This principle can be applied elsewhere.

For instance, my hero activities, small business owners running shops, novelists writing novels, webtoon artists creating webtoons.

Loving and enjoying something has that much power.

As the saying goes, a genius cannot beat someone who works hard, and someone who works hard cannot beat someone who enjoys it.

“Then the process shouldn’t be painful.”

“…”

“If all these tasks can be enjoyed, and the process of making games could be the same…”

“…”

“By gradually improving these children’s problems, we could get closer to a great game.”

This was my conclusion, my take from this main story.

Himari was staring at me intently, her eyes round and her cheeks slightly flushed.

“…”

“Himari senpai?”

“Ah, haha. You’re really…”

Himari hesitated several times before speaking, then said outright:

“You’re great, Hiroyo. Yeah. No wonder I like you.”

“…”

“Hehe. In this regard, your obliviousness is an attractive point too, I guess.”

I’ve been thinking it before, but Himari seems to really like me. This fact can’t be missed.

But… the sense that her ‘liking’ extends beyond mere affection is starting to feel prominent.

“Ho ho ho.”

Is the way Himari’s looking at me, smiling, somehow resembling Wakamo’s?

…

I tried to ignore it.

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