Blue Archive story · Volume 6, Chapter 2, Episode 8
Vol. 6 Ch. 2 Ep. 8: Porta Pacis 2
1 scenes, 242 lines
1. Part 1
242 lines
President!
Ugh...
I've...never heard of this.
You wouldn't have. Honestly, I believed it to be nothing but a legend or myth at first.
I haven't spoken of this to anybody.
However, just before the Eden Treaty, Beatrice went to the Porta Pacis archive.
I was the only one she told of this.
Eh...?
B-But no one was allowed to go there...
Do you think Beatrice cared?
That's...true...
Beatrice had many secrets, and this was one of them.
...Then could it be that Saint Justina Council's Mimesises manifested because...?
Perhaps. We'll likely never know.
...At most, I think we can say they were likely related in one way or another.
And, as you all know, the appearance of strange phenomena also began to increase across Arius.
Yes... I remember. There were suddenly lots of new things I'd never seen before. And we had...lots and lots of weapons...
We didn't think that much of it, I guess. We just thought...that adults are different from us... Adults are incredible...
"..."
But the "began to increase" part is important here.
Hm...? Does that mean...
...Sure, every school has their ghost stories, but, with Arius... It was on a different level.
It wasn't until after I left Arius that I realized the number of occurrences here wasn't normal.
"Why...are they happening here?"
I can't say exactly why.
However...
I believe this place simply...ended up like that.
There was always "something" in Arius.
Lament, grudge, resentment, rage, resignation... They all gather here to fester.
They say that a strong enough desire or resolve will manifest itself in some form or another.
B-But isn't that just a...metaphor...
But we've already seen them. Like the Saint Justina Council and Barbara, no?
...We did. But I thought that was just Madame's... Beatrice's doing.
Maybe I was averting my eyes to it... The other side of Arius' "truth."
I can't say anything for certain. However, sometimes I can't help but be afraid.
That swirling mass of negative emotions... Just what could be lying beneath them?
Just imagining it...terrifies me.
...
Ugh...
...Let's talk about the Book of Revelation, everyone.
Since, in any case...that seems to be at the core of the events taking place in Arius right now.
Yes. Thank you, Shimiko.
Of course, Atsuko.
The Book of Revelation is the last chapter of the scripture that has been passed down in both Trinity and Arius.
After all, the scriptures used in both academies are the same. The two may have diverged, due to differences in interpretation, but the source remained one and the same.
However, in Trinity, the Book of Revelation is used as a...reference text, kind of.
A book of ethical lessons, advice, and proverbs... That's all.
Arius' research and interest in the Book of Revelation were much more intense.
...They were interested in the "end of the world" as discussed in the Revelation.
"Doesn't that mean...?!"
...One way or another, Arius' leadership wanted to bring about the end of the world.
...
I'll be honest, Sensei. That's exactly it.
M-M-M-M-M-M-Misaki?!
What's with that reaction? Am I lying? And this is Sensei we're talking to.
...I can understand.
A neglected child will set fire to their village just to feel the warmth of the flames.
To someone who has nothing left to lose, the end of the world might even feel like salvation.
Because at the very least, that would make them feel like things are fair...
They say that for an individual, their death and the end of the world are ultimately the same thing, right?
Then I think it's more than plausible for someone to see it the other way around at some point.
...
In the Book of Revelation, a group of seven angels appear three times. We call them the "Angels of Revelation."
I thought of it as nothing more than a myth, originating from our fear and suffering.
Arius was always fond of the Book of Revelation, after all.
...Like Atsuko said earlier, strong human emotions tend to manifest themselves in some way.
The three groups of angels, recorded in the Book of Revelation, signal the end of the world.
The first is seven "angels opening the seals," followed by seven "angels blowing the trumpet," and lastly seven "angels pouring out bowls."
You said you all heard the trumpet, right? I did too. That must have been the "angels blowing the trumpet."
Based on the text, there were four blows of the trumpet.
This aligns with the voice we heard from the sky.
"Because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the three other angels."
"What happens if all seven angels blow their trumpets?"
Fufu. I wonder.
If, by any chance, everything in the Book of Revelation comes true...
Then it'll be seven angels with bowls of wrath next.
And once everything pours out onto the earth in order, the world will end...
In its place will be a new world for those who are faithful. That's what we were taught.
...Yes. If everything follows the Book of Revelation, that is.
But were they truly the Seven Trumpeting Angels?
Do you think they could be something else?
...Perhaps. Honestly speaking, everything is up in the air right now.
Something has always brewed deep within Arius, and this land has seen tragedy after tragedy.
W-We're really here...
Uh... Augh...
Everyone, be quiet. It's just a building. Don't panic.
Y-Yes.
Our destination is the archive, located underneath Porta Pacis.
It's said the "truth" of Arius lies dormant there.
There may be clues about the Trumpeting Angels there.
As you all well know, this place has been locked for over a hundred years...
S-Subaru? The door's...open...?
What?! Does that mean someone's already been here...?
No, it's okay. This works out.
I've heard that the one who opens the door will find themselves forever lost at the end of their journey.
...Someone's very kindly opened the door for us, so we have one fewer thing to worry about.
Does that mean we're really...
...going down...there?
...!
G-Got it, Subaru...
What should we do, then...?
Set up a base here, please.
A base?
Yes. You've all trained for this, so don't worry.
But make sure...
...you're ready to respond to attacks from both outside and in.
That's...!
Could it be for in case anything happens to you...?
Don't make me repeat myself.
Ah!!
G-Got it!
"Some people couldn't hear the trumpet?"
Yeah. We were divided into people who could hear the trumpet...
...
...and people who couldn't.
Do you know why?
I'm not sure... I was in the group of people who could...
...
And Subaru couldn't...
*sob*
Wh-Why are you crying...?
Sorry. I'm sorry... It's just...
I did have a feeling something must have happened yesterday.
E-Eek?!
I apologize. I don't mean to pressure you at all.
However, if you feel comfortable, could you share what happened?
Where did the other students go? Why did only you return to Sensei...?
And how did you know those students were headed to Porta Pacis?
"Atsuko, that's..."
Maia curled up in place and started shaking like a leaf...
Everyone seemed a little unsure what to do, then...
U-Um... I think it's...okay to tell Sensei what happened.
Hiyori...?
Sao-Sao, shh.
I-I'm sorry. I'm not very good at talking... People often say I'm a bit clueless... H-Heehee...
But still, I th-think you went through something really rough...and painful...and sad...
When that happens, it helps to just talk... Kinda let it out to someone, you know...?
Just talk...to anyone...?
Y-Yes! In this case, it'd be Sensei...and us too. Ah! But w-we can leave if you feel uncomfortable! I didn't mean to...!
...We can hang up too.
Yes. Whatever you need!
It's okay! You can...really trust Sensei. At least, I do.
No matter what you say, Sensei always tries to help you. They bought me stomach medicine once...and even magazines...
I-I mean, Sensei doesn't just magically fix all your problems! You have to figure out wh-what you're good at, too...
...Although, maybe Sensei did do everything for me...
But still! I'm told that's how a student can learn how to stand up on their own later...
Ugh, I don't know how to explain this well... A-Anyways! When it comes to stuff like this...
...just holding onto it, and suffering by yourself, only hurts you more.
S-Students from our school especially have a hard time with stuff, like talking or asking for help... I'm still working on that too...
S-So, I thought this might help a little...! H-Heehee...
Hiyori...
So, sh-should we step outside now? You know, since there are lots of things in this world that'd be embarrassing to tell too many people?
Yeah, I guess. Let's take a walk and survey the area.
Yes. Let's go do that.
E-Excuse me!
Hm?
Y-Yes...?
...
I want to do it. To tell everyone...
...You don't have to push yourself...
She finally mustered up courage, so it should be okay. Right, Ui?
I mean, I'd never...
"Are you sure?"
...Yes.
I think I want to hear everyone's opinions...so I can form my own resolve!
Maia slowly began recounting the events of the previous night.
...We were all stunned into silence, apprehensive of saying the wrong thing.
...
...
...
W-Waah! Waaaah!!
H-Hiyori? If you cry like that...
It's just too much! This is too sad! How could anyone not feel sad, listening to her story?! WAAAH!!
H-H-H-H-Hiyori?! Um, if you...!
Waaaaaaah!
I-I... I was barely...holding back too... *sniff*
That's exactly what I MEAAAN!!
You're very kind, Hiyori.
Yeah... She always has been. Misaki?
Stop it. D-Don't look at me.
Fufu. In times like these, you're supposed to cry your heart out.
I'm not crying!
"Thank you so much for sharing with us."
N-Not at all. Actually, thank you...everyone, for hearing me out...
But it comes back to the question... Why did only some of us hear the trumpet?
...I have a guess. Based off what we've learned so far.
I identified one common factor in each of the two groups.
What...are they?
Their participation in Sensei's class.
What? B-But we all went to that class...
But participation isn't quite the same as attendance. Like how you can read the words on a page but not understand a word of it.
...There are people on the outside who read the summaries of books and speak as if their opinion is fact and law!
...And there are even people who think books are for decorating walls and bookshelves...!
In the first place, a book is a conversation between the writer and the reader! You can't just skim it and think you've communicated properly!
Show some respect! Respect the books! Respect them!!
Ui? You're losing the thread...
Eeek?!
M-My apologies. Anyways... Just like how reading is like that, the same goes for classes.
Firstly, studying is the process of taking in something that's not yours, knowledge that you didn't know.
Class is the process of a teacher giving you that knowledge, so that you can then take it and study more.
You can go to class all you want, but if you don't pay attention...
...or if you forget everything as soon as you get home, then what was the point of even attending?
Ah...!
Of course, this is just speculation. But you're the only person who can corroborate it.
From what I understand, the students who heard the trumpet's blow, the sign of the end of the world...
They must have been the students who were more open to accepting foreign knowledge and ideas.
In other words, students who were less resistant to new perspectives coming into Arius.
What do you think?
You're right! I think that makes sense! You're amazing, Ui!
N-Not at all... It was all just logic-based conjecture...
How many times have I told you that you should accept sincere compliments with sincere gratitude?
Eeek?!
A-And if they were open to seeing and accepting the outside world...
...then they'd likely already begun having doubts about Arius as a whole.
...Knowledge and education are considered among the strongest stimuli for personal growth and change.
If they're beginning to harbor doubts, wouldn't that mean...?
Yes.
Sooner or later, those students could end up like her...
They might be branded as "enemies" at any moment, by the students who don't want Arius to change.
Does that mean the Trumpeting Angels might be...?
Who knows. They could really be the angels from the Book of Revelation...
But I suppose it'd be fair to say there's a lot of room for interpretation.
It could be some sort of a "phenomenon," created by a collection of Arius students'...
...hostilities, anxieties, angers, and other negative emotions directed toward the outside world...
...
It's just as Ui said. That's also what I believe.
However, if that is what those Trumpeting Angels are...
Then what's within them...
...is something darker and far more sinister than one could have thought.