Vol. 3 Ch. 4 Ep. 14: Face-to-Face

All clear. Move up.

Oh geez, life really is suffering.

Does it feel a little too quiet to anyone else? I've never seen it so abandoned.

There're a number of unfamiliar things about this street.

I've felt off since we arrived.

We may have been gone for a long time, but everything feels different.

...

Like, has this area always had all this crazy stuff?

Cruise missiles installed everywhere, weapons for distribution everywhere you look.

Come to think of it, don't you think the Mimesises are really weird? We just accepted them without question.

How long has Arius had that cruise missile?

When did you gain control of those mysterious soldiers?

Even a bomb capable of shattering halos...

How is any of this possible?

...

Enemy approaching. Hide.

Isn't that..?

Th-The Council?! Is it the Saint Justina Council? Why're they so scary looking?

How can they be here? Sensei cancelled our contract.

If you think about it...

The objective during the Eden Treaty plot was to secure the Mimesis ability.

Hime did as the wooden doll in the cathedral basement told her to, just as she was instructed.

With the Council troops secured, our mission was to occupy the Trinity and Gehenna districts.

But we lost to Schale.

Yes... We failed in both securing the Mimesis ability and occupying the academies.

But...she'd already secured the Mimesis ability...?

GRAAAAAAAH.

Wh-What was that...?

It's the scream of Ambrosius, a tactical weapon utilized during the Eden Treaty. It seemed to be some form of a Mimesis.

So, that means...

Yes. Perhaps she only needed one successful Mimesis.

Our real mission must have been to take Hime to the old cathedral and activate the Mimesis.

If so, our mission to occupy Gehenna and Trinity...

...never...actually mattered to her?

...

Then was the meaning of all this? All this pain...

Whatever COULD it mean, little one?

...We're surrounded?!

How did you...

She knew this was our only way in.

A+ for you, little Misaki.

...Madame.

This is my territory. You can't so much as take a breath here without me knowing.

Your childish plans were obvious from the start. Did you really think you could outsmart me, children?

Sh-She read us like a m-magazine!

Indeed. We've just been playing into her game.

...

And yes, Saori. You were correct.

From the beginning, your true mission was to bring the royal blood to the old cathedral and manifest the Council.

All I needed was for you to open a path to the Mimesis ability. Of course, Maestro doesn't like me treading on his supposed area of expertise much.

...

Trinity and Gehenna were little flies that landed on my chessboard.

I only used them as an excuse to fuel the deep-seated hate within your district. It made you little fools...so very, very easy to control.

...?!

In that sense, I suppose you actually did fulfill your mission! I couldn't have gotten the Mimesis ability without you.

Not only that, you handed over the royal blood so nicely. What an obedient little child you are, Saori.

I was only obedient to keep Hime safe! You lied to us.

Yes, yes. So tragic, so sad. Anyways, I have more important matters to attend to.

U-Ugh!

And we finally meet, Sensei.

Schale's educator. The beloved Sensei. Your reputation truly precedes you. I've anticipated this meeting for some time now.

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Beatrice, a member of Gematria, but you may call me Madame.

Tch. Insolence. Yes, I was the only one in Gematria who successfully established an estate. And look at how mine flourishes.

Aren't you curious how I've brought the entire student body under my control? I'll tell you my secrets...for a few in return, of course.

Oh? You're just as I imagined you'd be.

Oh? How disappointing.

You see, despite the way I look, I have no special powers or abilities.

I have at times wished for it...mind control, brainwashing. It certainly could have saved me a considerable amount of time. But we adults must do things our way, as you well know.

Hate, contempt, anger, disgust... Such intense, all-encompassing emotions. They're laughably easy to manipulate.

I do love the elegance of it. All I had to do was ignite the flame and watch my carefully laid-out plans burn the world down. At least, they would have before you intervened.

But those silly little brats you're trying so hard to save were already waging a civil war before I came along. Did you know that, Sensei?

All that deep-seated rage...that boiling hatred against the world. I simply...utilized it. I would hardly consider them poor, innocent little students.

Of course all those students you fervently protect are the same. Human nature is violent and selfish at its core.

You need only turn your gaze at Trinity to understand. You've witnessed it, Sensei. Their hatred. Their cruelty.

When you consider it that way, isn't there a beauty to my methods?

All I do is reach my hand into the insatiable void of hate they already possess and rip it open further. And then I fill that hole with my own teachings until my voice is the only command they follow.

And forcing them to commit heinous crimes under my command... The guilt they inherently suffer makes them latch onto me even harder. Is it my fault? Is it theirs? I do love watching them unravel.

You see, I distort the very fabric of their reality. Their emotions are no longer their own, their relationships with each other falling to the wayside as I become the only lifeboat in the middle of a treacherous sea.

Paradise is only paradise if it's exclusive. And in mine, adults dominate, exploit, and devour these unfortunate souls.

The more hellish for them, the more comfortable this paradise becomes for me.

Now, my dearest Sensei. Why don't you run along and let me prey upon my loyal subjects in peace?

Would you mind giving up on the royal blood?

I've spent so much effort on her. You wouldn't want me to waste it, would you? And I promise, you'll benefit from her sacrifice, too.

Aren't you the least bit curious? What the sacrifice of one insignificant student can achieve?

I'll make a world built just for you. Don't you like the sound of that, Sensei?

Come join me, and I'll tell you everything. About our new world, and secrets about the world we currently live in.

Kivotos is...truly...a marvel. A sublime tale of mystery and horror.

And I can show you the truth behind all of it. Take my hand, Sensei. It's the last time you'll see it extended.

"Enough out of you."

Oh?

Hahaha. They were right. You are resolute in your ways.

Hahaha. They were right. You are resolute in your ways.

If our truths can't align, I can only see you as my adversary.

So...is this Eden Treaty your paradise? A bumbling, idealistic world where love and friendship overcome all?

You're really no better than those naive children.

You can't slap the word paradise onto something and sell it to them. As an adult, you should be teaching the truth.

"Paradise is the origin of the first sin..."

Real paradise is hate. It's anger and remorse. It's the evil that lies within all of us.

"Beatrice."

"You've insulted our way of living long enough."

"Your methods are an insult to everything I stand for."

"As an adult, I cannot forgive you."

...So that's the path you choose, Sensei?

So be it. I'll be waiting for you in the basilica.

Why don't we take bets on whether you can make it to me?

Sensei, you truly are an incomprehensible presence.

Black Suit perceives you as a rival. Quite a compliment, coming from him.

Maestro is absolutely fascinated with you. He thinks you alone can understand him.

To Golconde, you're a metaphor that completes his eternal search.

And I perceive you as an adversary. We reject each other, like oil and water.

My natural enemy.

(...)

(...)

(Yes, yes, yes. W-We're...ready!)

Squash them. Grind them under your heel.

"I'm with you, Squad!"

BEATRICE!

"Mika...?!"

Mika?! How did you get here?

Long time no see, Saori.

I spent a long time thinking really hard about how I could get through Sensei to beat down Squad to pieces. But I'm really coming up short.

So, I just decided I'd figure it out as I go!

...Which wasn't my best idea.

Sensei, you really are too strong.