Act 2 Vol. 2 Ch. 2 Ep. 3: The Heritage League's Response

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Let us wage a holy war to correct this twisted Kivotos and establish true order in the name of glorious Gehenna.

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Well... It's a little hectic... But a radical change is always followed by a shock, right?

Yeah, totally. ...Yaha.

I don't understand what's going on...

I guess this is good? This is kind of what we wanted?

Huh?

It's a united Gehenna? Working together...putting Gehenna first?

Chairman Makoto and Head Prefect Hina's feud seems resolved. THEY were, by far, the biggest rift in the academy...

Well... That's true. Though it's a bit startling.

...They're coming together, but in the wrong way...

A war...?

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Maybe it's all a bluff? Like this whole war movement is an exercise?

Like to help us build teamwork through focusing on a singular cause?

But they seemed SO serious...

Eh, there's no way. You can't just declare war so easily, right?

Well, there is no reason NOT to declare war.

H-Hmm?

What do you mean by that, Shouko?

I said what I said.

The best way to unite Gehenna is to give us all a common enemy...by launching a righteous war.

But isn't warring with the entirety of Kivotos a bit ambitious?

Kivotos has always treated Gehenna as misfits and troublemakers. They suppressed us.

For them to acknowledge us on the grand stage, we would need to demonstrate overwhelming power.

Therefore, our war is justified. I also consider it an appropriate response to Kivotos' condescending perception of us.

I-Is that so?

There can be no glory without conquest.

...A war...

A war... I never seriously considered it...

Honestly, not much will change.

Just think of it as the Trigger-Happy Zone expanding to the entirety of Kivotos.

The...Trigger-Happy Zone?

Yes. Shoot, detonate, and destroy in coordination. All in the rhythm of a unified chant.

Decimate Trinity's center, Millennium's Tower, and Hyakkiyako's Tree of Deities.

It's simple enough.

But if there's a war, then people will fight back.

That's pretty different from destroying targets and building façades.

She's right. The other academies are no joke.

Even if we unite as one...

It's possible.

President, do you remember what you said? Everything that we did had purpose.

Ah...yeah. I might have said something along those lines.

Thanks to our activities, most students in Gehenna can now walk in formation.

You know, moving in sync with everyone is actually kind of...fun? In a way?

Yeah. It was awkward at first, but I fell into step before I even realized it!

Most students at Gehenna can now perform tactical actions.

Claymore ahead, maneuver to avoid it! Open fire, flanking from the right!

Sniper-shaped dummy spotted on the roof!

Deploy a grenade launcher to collapse the second floor! It's a 200-point bonus if we hit it!

B-But that was for stress relief...

And who designed it?

We. You. I...

...made Gehenna into this.

...We made this happen...?

We did...?

Yes.

None other than us.

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Everything we did had meaning. Every action had purpose.

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A holy war is about to begin. We shall correct this twisted Kivotos and establish true order in the name of glorious Gehenna.

We will return to the revered academy of the past, where we were a symbol of terror that no other academy dared tread upon.

Gehenna will become the one and only rule, the sole order.

Just one more step until our promised dream is realized...

Ah, Igarashi Shouko, correct?

You're looking for me?

Chairman Makoto has summoned you. She's awaiting you in the Pandemonium Society's strategy room.

The...war room. Understood, Kommandant. I will report immediately.

If you'd all excuse me.

Ah, sure. Take care, Shouko... I don't know what Makoto wants but, uh...

...We'll be waiting.

Come to think of it, it's been a while, juniors.

Uh...

Ah, you're from a while back, right? You talked about the old Gehenna...

And it has finally come to fruition! What do you think? Isn't it über glorious?

Eh? What is...?

Gehenna has at last returned to its old self!

Isn't this glorious unification exactly as you dreamed?

Uh... So this is what it used to be like?

Yes! Back when we reigned through fear! Our great fortress is looking just like the good old days!

B-But didn't you say Gehenna wasn't...so good back then?

You said you didn't want to go back, so why do you like it so much now?

Ah, forget about that. I was such a dummkopf. I misspoke.

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Think about it. Gehenna was once a place governed by order and control, just like in your dreams.

It was truly a glorious place. Everyone was coordinated, moving toward a single goal with a united, gestalt mindset. There was no being annoyed, no difficult thoughts. It was...perfect.

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Most importantly, it looks like the goals we couldn't reach back then are finally within reach!

A war against the entirety of Kivotos?! Haha, isn't that everything we ever wanted?

Gehenna has, at last, reawakened. The glorious and terrifying Gehenna of the past.

You seem...different from the last time we talked...?

...Are you sure you're okay?

Of course I am! I am perfectly, perfectly fine!

When we last talked, I was in love with my silly hobbies and kitsch. I was so distracted that I never thought of returning to the way things were.

It's hard to believe that was me. Looking back on it makes me cringe in embarrassment.

Well then, I better head back to headquarters!

You girls must prepare, too. Marching in this crusade is a rare and glorious privilege.

...What the?

So much for avoiding "romanticizing the past."

...Yeah.

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