Episode 190: Chaotic Escape, S Rank
The main building of Kroma Music Academy.
It was a massive tourist attraction in itself, composed of three castles.
Theater districts are scattered throughout the academy, but the theater in this main building stands out above all others.
There are even people who visit Academy City just to see the performances held there.
In one of the most luxurious corridors of this main building, a girl rode on a dragon and rushed down the hallway.
“Please wait!”
“Hell no!”
The girl with an ordinary face clearly refused the voice calling her from behind.
However, she was none other than the strongest force of Kroma Music Academy and one of the strongest individuals in Academy City.
Her name is Watatori Ryuko.
An ordinary high school girl who’s currently looking for a boyfriend.
“For real, you’re so persistent! I’m already tired from yesterday’s patrol…! I’ve had enough! I’m going home!”
Baltius, in the form of a small dinosaur, ran down the corridor while carrying its pitifully complaining master.
Occasionally passing students would momentarily look surprised upon seeing it, but they quickly understood upon recognizing the girl riding on top and let out an “Ah…” as if in agreement.
“Please wait!”
“No way! Absolutely not!”
Ryuko, who responded with outright hostility to the beautiful voice calling from behind, tightly clung onto Baltius.
“Baltius, shake them off like this!”
Just as Baltius was about to accelerate at its master’s command, a wall suddenly rose up right in front of them, blocking their path.
“What!? Break it!”
As Ryuko shouted, Baltius swung its sharp talons at the wall, but it had no effect.
The wall, shining brightly under the light, was made from numerous expensive jewels combined together.
A person who could build such an absurd wall could only be one person from Hinotuchi.
Ryuko called out that name without even trying to hide her displeasure as she turned around.
“…President Dia of the Student Council”
In front of Ryuko stood a girl accompanied by many students.
Her royal blonde hair was so dazzling it could make a typhoon flee barefoot, styled in an extravagant vertical ponytail.
This girl, whose appearance was so ridiculous it seemed like a joke, completed her regal image with her well-proportioned figure and refined features.
She was the embodiment of royalty.
She was none other than the current Student Council President, Diamonji Dia.
“Hehehe… I prepared traps in your escape routes beforehand. How do you find this Royal Wall? You should have no choice but to stand still before its magnificent brilliance!”
“I’m stuck because it can’t be broken normally!”
“That lie is not royal.”
“I’ve thought this before, but your ‘royal’ catchphrase is super lame.”
“……Regardless! I’ve caught you now, Watatori Ryuko!”
Dia, who looked extremely sad for a moment, quickly captured Ryuko with her radiant golden eyes.
With exaggerated theatrical gestures, she pointed her finger and continued speaking.
“Today, you will say it—become the Student Council President!”
“I am a Japanese person who can say NO!”
Baltius stood in front of Ryuko as if to protect her.
In contrast, Dia took something out of her pocket without hesitation.
“Those who lead must always meet the expectations of the people. Therefore, there can be no NO!”
What Dia took out was a gemstone.
She elegantly threw it to the ground.
The gemstone absorbed the surrounding magical power, expanded, and transformed into the shape of four knights.
“The back is blocked by the Royal Wall, and the front has the Royal Knights. Today, I win.”
“This is tyranny! This country is a democracy, right?”
“All the students have nominated you as the Student Council President. Democracy is great, isn’t it?”
“How much did you bribe them!?”
Before overwhelming capital, any existence seems powerless.
“Say you’ll become the Student Council President!”
“You’re so persistent…”
Ryuko looked at Dia with an exasperated expression.
Then, she declared boldly.
“There’s no way everyone wants someone like me to become the Student Council President!”
“As that’s impossible—” “Baltius! Dragon Succession! Hyakki Yagyō!” …
At Ryuko’s words, Baltius began to split and transform.
In the blink of an eye, the corridor was filled with various yokai (spirits/monsters).
Even the wide corridor felt too narrow in front of over a hundred creatures of the night.
“Hey, that’s not the kind of Dragon Succession that requires a report, right!? How badly do you not want to become the Student Council President!?”
“President Dia, I… I absolutely refuse to take responsibility! I want to live irresponsibly and easily.”
“To look me straight in the eye and say such uninspired things…”
Ryuko chuckled.
In the next instant, her figure disappeared among the swarm of yokai.
“! Search for her! Inspect each and every yokai! Efficiently, swiftly, royally!”
“Are you serious with this number!?”
“It’s Dia-sama’s order! Show the brilliance of royalty!”
“Ah, maybe I’ve seen bean washing for the first time?”
Dia, along with the student council members, made a fuss.
Even they were eventually swallowed up by the cheerful procession of yokai.
“―Phew, what a rough morning.”
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Ryuko said this.
She was already far away from the scene.
The sight of Baltius carrying Ryuko resembled that of a giant fox.
“Eventually, you guys should properly look for a Student Council President candidate.”
Lying on her back on Baltius’s back while it moved across the roof, Ryuko yawned.
Today was a pleasant day weather-wise.
Ryuko had intended to skip classes during the day, citing nighttime patrols as an excuse, and indulge in some food tours.
However, humans tend to feel sleepy when exposed to such comfortable breezes.
Ryuko closed her eyes atop Baltius’s fluffy back.
The distant sounds of live music, children’s laughter, and the bell signaling the start of today’s first performance echoed through the air; this academy never lacked for noise.
Ryuko loved Kroma Music Academy immensely.
“―You seem to have been chased again today.”
Suddenly, a voice came from beside her.
But Ryuko, without opening her eyes or showing surprise, replied.
“Day after day, it never gets old, does it? Can’t Teacher Nei tell her to stop?”
“I practice a laissez-faire approach in these matters. Do as you please! It’s good!”
“Is that really okay for a teacher?”
Unable to help herself, Ryuko sat up and questioned this.
The woman beside her had a graceful appearance.
Her crimson hair was cut short and neat, her elongated eyes striking, and her casual gestures radiated an unusual adult charm.
Though she appeared more like a famous actress than a teacher, Nei grinned cheerfully and gave a peace sign contrary to her looks.
“It’s fine, it’s fine! This academy values freedom as its motto. Look, I even have my drinking session before my upcoming stage appearance.”
“…Isn’t today your leading role?”
“Ahh, delicious, delicious!”
Nei ignored Ryuko’s warning and drank directly from the wine bottle.
Baltius, who got slightly splashed with wine on his back, let out a somewhat sorrowful sound.
“Pfff! Nothing beats chugging a fine wine!”
“I haven’t had alcohol, but even I know that’s wrong…”
At least, it shouldn’t be consumed like hydration for sports teams.
“So, what’s today’s issue?”
“I thought we’d take a nap here together.”
“Eh…”
“Just kidding, just kidding. Don’t make that sour face!”
Nei said this and pulled another bottle of wine from her subspace storage.
However, Ryuko grabbed her arm and quietly shook her head.
“You shouldn’t have more.”
“You’re being serious at the wrong times. Well, fine. Let me get straight to the point.”
Saying this, Nei summoned a window with her dive gear and showed it to Ryuko.
It appeared to be a report of some sort.
Seeing Ryuko’s obvious discomfort with the dense text, Nei sighed and began explaining.
“Yesterday, within this district, Solciera finally attacked someone.”
“…What?”
“This contains detailed information. Though, it’s only based on testimony from the female student victim. The nearby security cameras were broken, so there’s no footage.”
“Wait! Solciera attacked someone?! I was on patrol yesterday! I used a legendary ability through Dragon Succession to overlook a wide area!”
Ryuko didn’t know whether Solciera was the type to attack people.
At the very least, she had engaged in inhumane attacks against scholars.
However, she knew how impossible it was for someone to slip past Baltius’s vigilant surveillance network and cause trouble.
For Ryuko, this was simply inconceivable.
“But someone was attacked, nonetheless. Did you know? A student from the renowned Factom General Academy was involved recently. We need to resolve this—it’s rumored to be an elite academy with few but highly capable students.”
“Factom!?”
Upon hearing this word, Ryuko eagerly began reading the report.
Soon, she voiced her thoughts.
“…Toa-chan”
“Do you know her?”
“Yes, she’s a friend.”
“I see, I see. So, both officially and personally, you have reasons to get involved.”
As an S-Rank Explorer, to capture Solciera who caused trouble in the autonomous zone.
And as Toa’s friend, to avenge her enemy on her behalf.
Ryuko decided to get involved in this matter much more smoothly than expected from her usual lazy attitude.
“Is this all the information you have?”
“That’s right. Investigate further at the crime scene. It seems a few people from Factom will come too. Make sure to cooperate properly, alright?”
“I understand. I don’t intend to bother Teacher Nei.”
Hearing those words, Nei nodded approvingly and stood up.
She stepped off Baltius’s back and started walking across the rooftop.
Her steps were surprisingly steady despite having finished an entire bottle of wine.
Stopping after walking a bit, Nei turned around and warned Ryuko.
“Just a heads-up, this case smells fishy. Actually, it’s glaringly suspicious. Anyway, be careful.”
“Understood, thank you.”
Ryuko’s previously pitiable expression completely transformed into one unmistakably worthy of S-Rank status.
Seeing this, Nei nodded approvingly.
“And one more thing,”
Pointing below, Nei added,
“Dia-chan is climbing up the wall right now. You might want to escape quickly.”
“Eh!?”
Ryuko’s serious face reverted back to her usual self.
Peeking down cautiously, she saw Dia scaling the wall in a manner far from royal.
“Yikes! Baltius! Fly! Dragon Succession, Red Dragon!”
Panicking, Ryuko hastily commanded Baltius, disappearing into the sky moments later.
A few seconds later, Dia appeared on the rooftop.
“She’s escaped.”
“Haha, what a shame.”
Nei laughed while patting Dia on the shoulder.
Although Dia was momentarily surprised to see Nei on the rooftop, she sighed deeply due to the shock of Ryuko escaping.
“Ah, another failure.”
“C’mon, keep trying. Don’t give up.”
“Could you please ask Teacher Nei to request that I become the Student Council President?”
“I prioritize student autonomy, so I can’t do that.”
Nei said this while looking in the direction Ryuko had flown off to.
Seeing her posture, Dia looked somewhat exasperated.
“Didn’t you recommend her first in the first place?”
“Did I? Maybe?”
“Get it together!”
“But, yeah. That kid is suitable to be the Student Council President. At least more so than I was back then…”
“There’s no way a kid with such a habit of running away could be more proper than Teacher Nei.”
“But, Dia still wants that kid to become the Student Council President, right?”
At Nei’s words, Dia reluctantly nodded.
“She’s amazing once she puts her mind to it. She’s far more royal than someone like me.”
That was after observing Ryuko for a long time.
For Dia, this was the highest possible compliment.
Nei smiled gently at Dia and spoke.
“I’ve been thinking, isn’t that catchphrase of yours pretty lame? You used to be a normal kid back in your first year… What influenced you?”
“Teacher and student alike…!”
Shaking her shoulders, Dia glared at Nei.
But soon, calming herself by muttering “Royal, royal,” she gave a mischievous smile and said,
“By the way, Teacher Kogare was looking for you. She wondered if you were drinking somewhere again just before the show starts.”
“…No way. After all, there’s less than thirty minutes left?”
“Then what about those empty bottles in your hand?”
“Garbage collection.”
“Huge liar. That’s not royal at all.”
Saying this, Dia tossed a gemstone.
It transformed into a single armored knight.
“While we’re at it, I’ll escort you to the theater. You’ve been retired from exploration for a long time, so descending from the roof must be quite difficult for you.”
“I-I’ll pass. …Dia? You’re not supposed to look at teachers with such a scary face, Dia!”
A pitiful voice echoed throughout the main building.
Today, the daily life of Kroma Music Academy seemed noisy as ever.
