Chapter 58

1.

There is a saying, “Trying to dam a river with sand.”

It is a proverb that means working hard without any meaningful reward or purpose. It could also be expressed as digging a hole for nothing.

Since ancient times, it has been said that preventing crime is “impossible.”

The vast city is full of people with different personalities and appearances, showcasing a diverse range of human characters.

There’s no way to control and monitor all these people.

Therefore, stopping crime and punishing evil was nothing more than an unrealistic goal and a dream.

For this reason, some criticized hero activities as meaningless actions that disregarded the law.

And some defined hero activities as behaviors that suffered for nothing.

It wasn’t something I particularly denied. It might be true.

Just, this is what I think.

The ‘value’ bestowed upon a hero and the ‘value’ perceived by ordinary people can never be the same.

If you want to be a hero, you must abandon ‘rationality.’

“Someone who chases beliefs and ideals. That’s what a hero is.”

From a rational and conventional perspective, a hero is someone who cannot be evaluated as ‘average.’

That’s why they break free from rationality and objective views, pursuing only something they themselves desire.

In the process, regardless of any harm or trials they may experience, they stubbornly move forward to achieve the results they want.

“But you guys are different from me.”

Forces, groups, and corporations.

All these were inevitably built for rational purposes, aiming to create value and profit.

They only set up standards based on their own version of rationality.

And they act to gain profit under those standards.

After all, corporations are entities that can become cruel at any time to achieve their own goals.

That’s why Kaiser Corporation longed to take control of the Abidos Autonomous District.

That’s why Saint Nephtys expedited her business, leading to the downfall of Abidos.

A corporation must not do meaningless things.

It must only pursue profit and aim for expansion.

This was the universal principle and logic of all corporations.

Then—.

“Isn’t it over if I just destroy that?”

I’ll erase the meaning and value of what they’re doing.

Furthermore, I’ll endlessly consume their resources.

This was the strategy I established.

It was a game of chicken.

A struggle between me and Kaiser Corporation that would never end unless someone backed down.

“You guys, how far can you use your cards?”

This was my provocation to corporations.

I will bet everything to stop you.

Will you really bet the pillars of your corporation just to stop me?

After all, can you really take that decision and endure it?

If you want to confront me, you must risk losing everything.

This was the message

I left for Kaiser Corporation and other corporations.

2.

Everything I’ve done so far, and everything I aim to do, has been about altering an existing story.

To go further, if I exaggerate, it could be described as “twisting fate.”

Then, why do I want to change the story?

It’s simple. There were parts I didn’t like!

The frustration I felt while enjoying the [Blue Archive] storyline. The desire to wrap things up more cleanly. And my resolve to end someone’s unhappiness.

Since the story doesn’t satisfy me, I change it.

I alter the story into the form I desire.

That was the reason why I intervened in the main story, but another thought naturally arose as well.

Perhaps you could call it a fan’s heart, or maybe regret?

There were parts of the story I enjoyed while watching, just as there were parts I didn’t like. After all, wasn’t the reason I liked [Blue Archive] in the first place mainly its story and characters?

Thus, two conflicting feelings collided.

The frustration of wanting to change the parts I didn’t like and the regret of wanting to maintain the parts I enjoyed.

I couldn’t come to a decision easily.

But it was enough to determine my way of action.

Ultimately, the changes in the story are due to my intervention, aren’t they? Therefore, the method is simple.

“Intervene only where necessary and let the rest flow naturally.”

That was the conclusion I reached.

And I finally witnessed the scene I wanted to see.

Precisely—

“Let’s rob a bank.”

The declaration of a gray-haired girl with wolf ears.

And the moment they head to the Black Market, donning masks.

“Phew!”

I burst into laughter while watching all of it from behind.

It was impossible not to find this scene delightful, as I had expected.

“Really dizzy. Hehe.”

With tears welling in my eyes, I chuckled, and the members of the Committee also laughed, realizing how ridiculous they looked, except for one girl.

“What are you talking about, Hiiro? You should come with us.”

“?”

…This isn’t what I had in mind.

“Here’s the mask we prepared earlier.”

“Excuse me? Am I supposed to do this too?”

“Yes. Hurry.”

“…”

Wait, are you asking me to rob a bank?

Me?

…I’m Silk, remember?

…

…

…

Let me first explain how we ended up in the Black Market.

One of the variables I created. The absence of the delinquent students who used to harass Abidos.

This single variable had turned many things around.

Significantly, Serika wasn’t kidnapped by the delinquent students,

and the Committee escaped their days of constantly battling in the game,

and furthermore, the Committee’s pursuit of Kaiser Corporation disappeared.

The original direction of the Committee’s story was to realize that the weapons of the delinquents came from the Black Market through information collection, causing the serious conflict between Kaiser and the Committee.

However, since I had drawn all of Kaiser’s attention, the Committee was in a situation detached from its original storyline of chasing Kaiser.

How could I fix this?

It’s simple.

All I had to do was release the information myself.

“Did you know that those delinquents attacking us earlier were operating under Kaiser’s orders?”

“Excuse me? Is the money we repaid being used for illegal activities?”

“Why does Kaiser, who should be collecting our repayments…?”

The children of Abidos showed bewildered reactions to the information I released during the Committee’s meeting.

Only Hoshino, who seemed to have guessed the truth, and Shiroko, with her minimal expression changes, remained relatively unaffected.

As I continued the explanation, stroking Shiroko’s wolf ears resting on my knee,

“The details aren’t clear, but Kaiser’s intent seems to be more than simply collecting repayments from you.”

“What other purpose…?”

You don’t know the truth yet.

I delivered this impression through my explanations.

I didn’t release all the information I remembered.

Since releasing everything would create unnecessary confusion,

just the amount of information I could collect at this point was enough.

“Thank you, Hiiro. Thank you so much for providing such important information for us.”

“Yeah, it’s for my friends. Hehe.”

“Hiiro, keep going. Hurry.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

As Ayane, who was leading the meeting, briefly summarized the situation and expressed her gratitude to me,

I shrugged my shoulders and lightly nodded, continuing to scratch Shiroko’s chin.

“Chirp chirp-”

Is it a cat or a wolf?

As I was busy stroking Shiroko’s ears and chin like this,

“…What do you think, Teacher?”

Ayane, who had been deep in thought, asked the one adult in this room for her opinion.

The teacher, who had quietly listened to the meeting until now, finally opened her mouth.

“It’s too early to jump to conclusions, but I trust Hiiro’s information. Of course, the authenticity needs verification, but…”

That decided the Committee’s next move.

To confirm the information I provided, all of us decided to head to the Black Market together.

This was why we were heading to the Black Market.

3.

“Ah, oof…? Oof…?”

The new connection we made at the Black Market.

Hifumi Azuchani from Trinity Academy, year 2, was making flustered noises and tightly hugged her backpack.

It was definitely an interesting sight to see this beige-haired girl, who claimed to be an ‘ordinary student,’ making ‘woof woof’ sounds. Under normal circumstances, I might have watched this scene with a smile, calling her cute, or encouraged Hifumi…

“…Damn.”

But now wasn’t that kind of situation.

Because, frankly, I’m not in a position to talk either!

Why am I involved in this mess too?

“Hoshino-senpai, is this correct?”

“Hmm~ I don’t know anything, buddy~”

How about finding out, then? This is just unacceptable, you know!

“Excuse me. Please stop those people.”

“But remember our last agreement. Hiiro’s joining us from now on. Thinking of breaking that promise~?”

“Are you serious…!”

That’s a different matter, girl!

“Augh.”

“Aaaa. I’ve no idea~”

The only person who knows my true identity, Hoshino, walked away ignoring my desperate plea.

“…Sh*t.”

I looked down at the white mask in my hand.

The number ‘5’ written on the forehead position wasn’t originally mine.

When I glanced up at Hifumi, who was still flustered but receiving the bread bag and at the number written on it…

“…”

‘6.’ The number wasn’t ‘5.’

Around the time I started to feel like I’d taken Hifumi’s place…

“Oof… How am I supposed to face the Student Council…”

“It’s fine! They’re the bad guys!”

“Let’s go☆”

“Alright, Hiiro. Get ready.”

“…”

Damn. All of them except me are already ready.

Sighing as if the world had ended, I put on the mask according to their wishes.

I don’t know anymore. We’ll see how it goes.

“Teacher, that line, please.”

When I was lamenting silently, Shiroko turned to the teacher who was watching us and smiled.

Then.

“Let’s rob a bank!”

The teacher’s announcement echoed.

Listening to the teacher’s declaration, I thought.

‘As I suspected, that person is the most abnormal.’

I realized again that respect as an adult and respect as a human are different matters.

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