Episode 15 : The delusion that terrorists come to school is a path everyone must take

　The cover story created for infiltrating the private Eichiin Academy is as follows.

　A student from a fictitious high school made up of a fictional setting overseas studies at Eichiin for a few days as a short-term study abroad program.

　The colonel said that it would be easy for someone who had connections typical of wealthy people to know about the underworld to find out right away, but even if they found out, it wouldn't be a problem because it wouldn't reveal who we were. .

　In fact, even though the existence of magical girls is widely known, due to the recognition blocking effect caused by magic, it is difficult to recognize "magical girls" and "transformed humans" as the same entity unless they are seen during the transformation process. , which is basically impossible for ordinary people to do.

　Basically, though. Additionally, magical girls are officially treated as "dead humans."

　Placing my hand on my heart, which was still not beating, and thinking about this vaguely in the back of my mind, I was being rocked by the colonel's car.

"I think you understand, but please try to 'imitate' in a way that stands out as much as possible, okay?"

"I know it."

"...Yes..."

"Yes"

　Koyomi, myself, and Yukina all responded to the call from the driver's seat, and then glanced at the huge school building that was finally approaching us.

　In the event of an emergency, the orders from above were to transform into a magical girl and capture the terrorists alive without killing them, but for some reason, the recognition blocking effect did not work. We were given sidearms in case we couldn't transform.

　Koyomi had one handgun that was easy to use, Yukina had two .50 caliber ones similar to the Magic Conquerors, and I.

"Lastly, I want to confirm, Chihaya Saijo. Isn't that the right choice for your sidearm?"

"agree with"

"Contender...you chose something with a very strong quirk."

　The sidearm I chose was a center-folding type that could only hold one round in exchange for being able to load a variety of bullets.

　As the colonel said, it's a handgun that's full of quirks, and if you were to ask if it could be put to practical use, you'd probably shake your head and say it would be impossible unless you were a very skilled or special person.

　In my previous life, I played a fair amount of FPS games, but if you were to ask me if I was good with a gun, I would definitely say no.

"I chose the gun based on the condition that it would be the fastest way to accomplish your order, so there is no problem."

"I believe what you say, Chihaya Saijo. Well, it's best if we don't end up in a situation where I end up using a sidearm."

　However, Chihaya Saijo, who has lived as a professional on the battlefield, is a different story.

　A handgun that can quickly fulfill the orders from the upper management that do not let life or kill, and Chihaya Saijo's shooting skills.

　It's just that the Contender was a combination of these two and was chosen as the gun that could incapacitate a field commander in the quickest way even in an emergency. After all, the fact that rifle bullets can be used in a handgun even if the number of loads is over is huge.

　Our order is to neither let them live nor kill them, so our sidearms are loaded with non-lethal bullets.

　Still, it hurts a lot if it hits you.

　Of course, since they're using real guns. It's probably better than dying though.

　However, despite what I've said, I don't think there will be any Contenders.

　In the game, there was a shootout involving all the students in the school, but I know when it will happen and where the intrusion will come from.

　I wondered if I should tell Koyomi and Yukina about it, but if I told them poorly, they might wonder where I got the information from and suspect me of being an insider.

　In other words, I would have to face the threat of terrorism by myself, but if you ask me if Koyomi and Yukina are needed, that's completely impossible.

　After all, the terrorists invading the school are just a preliminary battle.

　The favorite, of course, is Hitogata, who they hold like a natural right.

"Well then, from today onwards, you all will be international students for a while. Please be sure to stop the barbarous acts of 'Akatsuki no Sora'."

"roger that! "

　Well, that's not all for me, I say, returning the salute to the colonel and getting out of the car.

　However, it's been a long time since I've been in high school. The school I went to was not a prestigious school with such a magnificent school building, but a local public school, which was old at best and run down at worst.

　Perhaps because there are three unfamiliar people walking around, a sense of tension begins to emerge among the students of Eichiin.

　Among them, Koyomi's silver hair, red eyes, and clear white skin seemed to stand out, and most of the curious eyes were focused on her.

"That's great, Koyomi-chan, you're the center of attention all at once."

"...Ah, eh...uh..."

"It's not much of a tease, Yukina."

"Yes, Chihaya-senpai, I understand."

　I think she's pretty cute too, Yukina murmured in a questioning voice.

　Even though she was on an infiltration mission, her shoulders seemed to be quite relaxed, but there was no way to hide the murderous intent and nervousness that was seeping out from her.

　It would also be so. Yukina has slightly different motivations than the rest of us.

"Don't rush to live"

"…What are you talking about?"

"That's all I can say from here. The rest is your problem."

"..."

　If I don't know how much my words resonate with the silent Yukina, I have no way of knowing.

　All I wanted was to be remembered.

　Even if the casualties in this event in the original story were civilians --- even if it were only mobs.

　Besides, whether you're a mob or a named person, the value of life in this world is too small.

　So if you say it's a shitty game, that's all, but at least we and the students at Eichiin, whose names I don't know, are still alive.

　Whether it's a shit game world or a god game world, I don't want to die unreasonably ever again. And if possible, I don't want anyone to die.

　If a terrorist were to come to school, it would be no more than a joke that junior high school students fantasize about when they have too much free time to spare during class.

　Then, when you finish your student life without incident and suddenly become an adult, all you have to do is bury your face in the pillow and flutter your legs.

　That's the case in any era, anywhere in the world. And maybe that's why I'm here now, to get away with something like that.

"...And even if it means pointing a blade or gun at a living person?"

"...Ah, uh...are you okay...? Saijo, Senpai...?"

"Hmm...I'm sorry, Koyomi. I was just thinking for a while. Is it okay to check the cover story?"

　The expression on my face as I mumbled must have been quite gloomy.

　Forcing herself to put on the sales smile she had cultivated during her part-time job, she deflected the conversation by replying to Koyomi.

　I am well aware that if I answer a question with a question, I will receive a red mark. I'm taking sneaky measures.

"...it's okay... it's...!"

"That's a coincidence. Is Yukina okay too?"

"Yes, it's okay."

　The cover story says that I'm from overseas, but I don't understand any foreign languages, not just English. So much so that I regularly got red marks in my high school and university exams.

　If someone talks to me in a foreign language, I just hope that Chihaya Saijo's brain remembers that language.

　Nothing will be okay, but for now I will act like a reliable senior and proudly hold my head high.

"Then let's go."

　The terrorist organization ``Akatsuki no Sora'' will arrive in about a week, and for some reason, it's the last day of my short-term study abroad, so in a sense, the timing is just right.

　Until then, let's enjoy our second school life. I don't feel like I can keep up with classes at a school that has one of the highest standard deviation scores in the country.

　According to the cover story, I'm a third year high school student, Yukina is a second year student, and Koyomi is a first year student. Regardless of her actual age, the arrangement certainly made her look that way.

　I'm worried about Koyomi's shyness, but she's supposed to keep in touch with her regularly, and as a magical girl, she should have received that kind of education at MAGIA.

　Besides, if I'm going to say something meta, Koyomi is the main character, so it would have been fine in the original story, so there's no problem.

　If there was one, it would probably be me, so instead of sighing, I cast a glance at the extravagant and large school building.