Vol. 1 Ch. 3 Ep. 23: Valley of Student Council Presidents

...The Train Cannon Schemata.

But why...

...Gehenna's emblem...?

And, this place...

It doesn't feel like a memorial at all. More like..

...Like a war fortress?

...Eyepatch.

("Eyepatch"...?)

You are correct, Takanashi Hoshino. This place was once a historical relic, left by student council presidents from hundreds of years ago. But someone repurposed it into a war fortress.

I was naturally not a higher-up, so I may not know all the details, but I can say with confidence that building the Trans-Desert Railway was their original intent. The plan for the Train Cannon was a later addition.

Someone suggested the cannon to the student council, as an attempt to salvage the troublesome and unprofitable project.

What? Who? Who would do that...?

The person who did this manipulated both the Abydos Student Council and Nephthys.

Are you saying there was some kind of a mastermind behind all this, Eyepatch?

No, we can no longer call her the mastermind. She has long since graduated and left Kivotos.

...Graduated?

Yes... She was Gehenna's Tyrant Emperor, the one who covered Kivotos in darkness two years ago.

...Tyrant Emperor?

She was a genius strategist and inventor, but also a skilled politician. There's even a theory that the Eden Treaty, initiated by the General Student Council President, was a scheme to counter the Tyrant Emperor.

I've never heard of her before.

...It was she who involved herself with the Trans-Desert Railway, steering its course on an entirely different path.

Because of her, a simple logistics and distribution project quickly became a point of extreme political conflict.

Why would this Tyrant Emperor involve herself?

...No one knows.

...Even at the time, no one could understand the Tyrant Emperor's true intent.

Whether she was a genius or simply eccentric...no one knew what she was thinking.

Perhaps approaching Abydos was a game to stave off her boredom, a mere whim.

Regardless, her interest in Abydos faded quickly after the Train Cannon project was halted.

...

Her iron-fisted rule eventually ended in a violent coup led by her subordinates, but...it's said that many of her inventions remain scattered throughout Kivotos.

Many covet the power they could wield over Kivotos with just one of those inventions. Such as the Train Cannon.

This old-timer really, really doesn't care about your story time, Eyepatch.

("Old-timer"...?)

That being said, why did you want me here? Is the Tyrant Emperor connected to Yume in some way?

...No, not at all.

...The contract, then? Did she have something to do with Yume's contract?

...

Or are you a Gehenna student, looking to recover the Tyrant Emperor's invention?

...Who are you? What are you plotting?

...

*sigh* Forget it. I'll get to the point.

I don't have any kind of interest in Gehenna or the Tyrant Emperor or whatever else. I'm here to destroy that weapon behind you.

The existence of that abomination spits on Yume's last wishes. I won't let it be.

Never. No matter what.

...Do as you wish, Hoshino.

But you'll have to take this card from me first.

Nonomi's gold card...?

I can use this to activate the Train Cannon. And you'll need it to destroy the weapon.

Defeat me, and claim this card.

My true target has always been you, Takanashi Hoshino.

...You. Who are you?

Ah, ah. Long have I wondered that, as well.

A wanderer without a school, Kaiser PMC mercenary, Nephthys errand girl, Highlander Academy's overseer, double agent for the private equity fund...

...But I know exactly what I am now.

I am your enemy, Takanashi Hoshino. You, the rightful heir to Abydos' terror and madness.

But that terror is the very source of your strength. So I have no choice but to oppose you.

What do I have to do to incite your desperation? Is the Train Cannon not enough?

...Defeat me, and I'll tell you where that notebook is.

...I really was going to go easy on you, but you...I'm gonna have to go all out.

Yes, that's a good expression.

Let's begin.