Chapter 28

1.

Gehenna Academy.

One of the three major academies located in Kiburatos, it is the quintessential lawless zone where incidents never cease. It shares a hostile relationship with Trinity Academy, and it is predominantly known for its students who resemble demons in appearance. Among the three great academies, it is often described as having the longest history. However, the single word that most encapsulates Gehenna within Kiburatos is this:

absolute chaos. Gehenna is nothing if not the epitome of unrestrained pandemonium.

This name alone answers why I chose Gehenna, rather than Trinity or another autonomous district, as my next field of activity. As the saying goes, “If you’re going to get hit, strike first.” Since I plan to be active in all three academies, I judged it best to quickly adapt by continuing my activities in Gehenna.

So, I headed to Gehenna and was about to start my formal activities there…

But clearly, something was amiss.

“…What is this?”

[Hiirou, am I seeing things?]

“Is this real? Am I hallucinating?”

The sound of gunfire, screams, and explosions were reverberating from all directions. The disorder and chaos of Gehenna were laid out before me.

But wasn’t the state of lawlessness supposed to have ended recently? Why is Gehenna still as chaotic as ever?

Moreover, it’s not like the guidance department isn’t doing anything. It’s just even more chaotic—a chaos exponentially worse than before.

How am I supposed to put an end to this?

As I deliberated in shock at the sight, I witnessed a truly shocking scene in the heart of Gehenna.

I was so stunned that I even swore.

“Shit.”

[Hiirou, don’t swear! I understand, but we should still use good language. What’s going on?]

“Why… why are there no citizens? No, rather, why are the citizens joining the chaos just minutes before the insanity begins and acting so recklessly?”

[…What?]

Heroes protect citizens and maintain order—that’s the definition I’d formulated as I carried out my activities.

But…

“Citizens… they don’t exist…?”

In Gehenna, there were no citizens to protect. Of course, they do exist, but until I saw them wielding guns like the students, hurling curses, and throwing bombs first, I had thought of them as regular citizens.

What is going on in Gehenna?

Why are the citizens, who should be protected, instead joining forces with the students and waging war?

“Batman’s city actually exists here…”

[What is this Batman you speak of?]

As Himari asked, all I could do was shake my head in utter bewilderment as I stared down at Gehenna.

“Isn’t this just… self-defense? To protect themselves, they’re reacting against criminals, right?”

[O-of course. Citizens wouldn’t commit crimes first, right?]

KA-BOOM!

“NOW! Let’s loot everything!”

“YEEEAHH!”

As if mocking our desperate attempts to look away, a citizen—or rather, not a citizen—comprised of a robot and a werewolf threw a bomb at the nearby buildings.

In a flash, the main gate was breached, and the citizens surged inside, their gunshots echoing throughout the city.

“…”

[…]

We fell silent. I wanted to disbelieve that this surreal scene was reality.

However—

“…I’m losing my mind.”

When I saw the black-furred werewolf who had emerged from the recent explosion, angrily roaring as he transitioned from citizen to thief right before my eyes, I realized what I had to do.

“Himari-sempai.”

[…Yes? Please speak.]

“I’m not going home today.”

[…]

While I had no idea what else to do, someone popped into my mind who must be struggling to deal with this situation.

The chaos of Gehenna cannot be completely quelled. No matter what I do, Gehenna will remain chaotic. But at the very least, I will prevent the chaos from growing worse. That’s all there is to it.

At the very least, shouldn’t I protect the few people trying to maintain order and the handful of sane individuals left in Gehenna?

“I’ll become Gehenna’s Batman.”

[What is this Batman again…]

Today, at least, I will be vengeance and the night for Gehenna.

—

2.

Silk had appeared.

And not in D.U. or Millennium, but in “Gehenna.”

This news spread across all of Kiburatos in mere hours. The restoration of communication between districts after the revival of Sentum Tower accelerated the spread of this information.

Students and citizens of each autonomous district focused on the situation in Gehenna, where Silk had seemingly extended her reach. Videos uploaded on social media showing Silk only deepened the shock.

“…What time is it now?”

“I knew Gehenna was a notorious academy, but to this extent?”

Five hours had passed since Silk’s arrival in Gehenna. Updates on her activities kept appearing at a pace of every few minutes, every one depicting her taking down delinquent students and criminals.

Using spider silk, knocking opponents out with her fists, binding enemies with nearby structures, even dismantling a tank single-handedly—her feats were incredible.

She broke the tank’s main cannon with her bare hands, then proceeded to deal multiple blows to the top half, creating a massive hole. Witnessing Silk’s raw power left all of Kiburatos in awe.

Of course, not everyone was convinced.

“So, why did Silk come to Gehenna?”

Silk’s appearances were regular news, but they usually took place in D.U. or Millennium. Her appearance in Gehenna was an unprecedented event, naturally raising questions. Some curious citizens even questioned her directly while recording.

She answered with clarity.

“Because Gehenna has too many villains.”

“I don’t want Kiburatos to become a hotspot for villains.”

Her words had an impact beyond imagination.

They sounded like a declaration that she intended to eventually cleanse all villains from every autonomous district in Kiburatos.

Illegal actors and thugs throughout Kiburatos were left sweating in fear. The students of small academies cheered, hoping for her intervention. Larger academies watched her statements with interest.

The Student Council, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief internally—more chaos in Kiburatos would only make their jobs harder.

While the reactions varied, the underlying message was clear: Silk was not limiting herself to D.U. and Millennium; she intended to broaden her activities.

This heroism in Gehenna was just the beginning. In the future, she planned to step into places like Trinity, Abidos, the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, and the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

“Today was merely Gehenna.”

Simply because Gehenna caught her attention, that was all.

Her final statement was a warning to villains across Kiburatos—a promise that tomorrow could belong to her.

—

3.

“What are you interrupting for?!”

“That mask doesn’t suit you!”

An aggressive delinquent charged at me with unchecked fervor.

“What gives you the right to interfere in our fight, huh?!”

“Preaching pisses me off! Just destroy him!”

Without any pause or hesitation, students pointed their guns at me in anger.

For hours now, I’ve been punishing the troublemakers, but all they see me as is a mere “obstacle.”

Why the negative reaction?

Is it because the news hasn’t reached them yet? No.

Do they overestimate their abilities? No.

The simple truth?

“…It’s really irritating.”

Just plain irritation. Simply put, they just don’t like me. That’s the reason.

No matter how superior my strength is or how mercilessly I punish them, it doesn’t matter. They’re troublemakers who consistently stir up trouble despite the presence of Hinata, the powerhouse of Gehenna. My involvement doesn’t change anything.

Demon-like natures, it seems, are just that—impulsive and violent, endlessly troublesome.

My actions went on for hours, leaving me mentally exhausted.

‘Hina, what kind of battles were you fighting?’

Reflecting on this, I began to truly admire how Hinata manages her steady guidance role in such a chaotic environment…

“What are you spacing out about?!”

CHUNK!

As I briefly lost focus and looked to the sky, I noticed the kids who thought I was ignoring them, only to gift them each a strand of spider silk.

The strand seemed to make them quite pleased, as they lay screaming happily on the ground. Of course, with my silk webbing over their mouths, they couldn’t be too loud.

I left them there, asking a nearby civilian to inform the guidance department, and moved quickly to the next spot. Gunshots were still echoing in various areas.

As I swung on my webbing towards the nearest sound, I unexpectedly came across someone I didn’t expect.

“Huh?!”

“N-No! My ingredients!”

A deafening cry from up above echoed through the skies.

Below was a girl with black hair and an apron, kneeling amidst scattered vegetables on the ground.

It looked like an explosion had involved her, with flames rising nearby and broken crates scattering around. Even her ladle lay discarded beside her.

“That girl…”

Aikyo Fuuka, if I remember correctly.

As the girl picked up the charred vegetables with a look of utter despair, it moved me to act. I swiftly flew to her side and dealt with the unruly students causing the chaos.

“AAAAHHH!”

“What… What is this?!”

“What’s this? It’s a fist smashing into your head!”

Just as I pounced on the delinquents, bullets came flying from behind me. I turned my head to see Fuuka, who had risen from her spot, pointing a gun at me.

‘Damn.’

As I stared at her in confusion, Fuuka, noticing my gaze, glared with fiery red eyes and yelled.

“Did you ruin my ingredients?!”

It wasn’t me—I wanted to shout for help.

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