Vol. 3 Ch. 1 Ep. 9: What Lurks in the Depths

Welcome, Sensei. How good of you to join me.

How are you and the Make-Up Work Club faring?

...Yes. I heard the news. It sounds like the first exam didn't go so well.

There are still two exams left, however.

Oh...this? I was playing a game of chess. It's a hobby of mine.

Is something wrong?

Aside from the pawns, the black side has only a king and queen, whereas the white has three or four each of kings, rooks, bishops, and knights.

I'm sure this game must look strange to you.

Yes, it's just me at the moment. Mika isn't here to cause her usual distractions. I've been waiting here by myself to speak with you.

Though it would seem there's something you would like to ask first.

...

So you heard about that. Hifumi must have told you.

She's soft-hearted when it comes to such things, though that is one of her commendable qualities.

Nothing out of the ordinary would happen. There is only one course that can be taken after repeated academic failure: Everyone in the Make-Up Work Club will be expelled.

It's only natural that Trinity have regulations regarding failure, suspension, and expulsion.

The steps in doing so are long and arduous. Unlike Gehenna, Trinity follows procedure.

The Make-Up Work Club, however, was created using a loophole that gets around those rules. It was thanks to Schale's authority that it was established.

After all, the Make-Up Work Club's true purpose...

...is to expel students.

...

Because among them is someone who would seek to betray Trinity.

This traitor seeks to prevent the Eden Treaty from being signed.

I suppose it's time I explain the treaty so that you might understand the gravity of the situation.

The Eden Treaty, simply put, is a non-aggression pact between Trinity and Gehenna.

Its main purpose is to establish a neutral treaty organization comprised of key figures from both Gehenna and Trinity.

This organization, named the Eden Treaty Organization, will automatically intervene and resolve any conflict that breaks out between Trinity and Gehenna.

In other words, this is an alliance that seeks to achieve peace by bringing two bitter enemies together.

This will prevent all-out war between the two academies, for if one flounders, then both will sink together.

Sensei.

The lasting hostility between Trinity and Gehenna has been a great burden to both parties.

The Eden Treaty is the only way to put an end to the needless hostility and keep the balance of power in Kivotos.

This solution was suggested by the General Student Council president. It had fallen by the wayside once she went missing, but I've been able to restore its momentum.

And now, just as we're preparing to finally sign the treaty, we receive intelligence that there are people planning to sabotage it.

That said, we don't know who she is. That's why our next best option was to gather every suspect in one place.

But rest assured: She is among them.

We are disposing of the entire apple cart to rid ourselves of the one rotten apple.

Fortunately, Sensei, that's why we chose you to tend to that apple cart, to advise the Make-Up Work Club.

...My apologies.

I realize I've put you in the middle of quite the predicament. You have every right to resent me.

You are correct.

It's good that you're quick on the uptake.

Sensei.

I would like for you to identify the traitor hiding among the Make-Up Work Club.

They are already deceiving you and Trinity as we speak.

She is a terrorist, and terrorists do not wish for peace. They think they can risk the safety of Kivotos for their own personal gain.

Finding the traitor is for the sake of Kivotos' peace and safety. Surely that's something you can sympathize with as a representative of Schale.

Will you now?

Though do remember the apple cart. If you can't spot the rotten apple, you could simply...tip it over and dispose of them all.

There are many ways to alter exam results.

For example, the contents, location, or difficulty of an exam could suddenly be changed at the last minute.

Of course, it would be a shame if such a thing happened, but then again...

Pardon me, Sensei. I'll continue to leave the Make-Up Work Club under your care.

I'd love to say that you personally won't be exposed to any unpleasantness because of this...

Right. I make no promises.

But knowing you, someone who couldn't bear to leave a student behind... I can hardly predict how things will ultimately turn out.

I only hope that the end of this story will be a happy one.

Oh, but there is one thing I want to make clear.

We didn't interfere with the first exam in any way. I promise you that.

If you insist on doing things your way, then I hope it will be something that benefits Trinity.

Well, then. Until next time.