Chapter 144

Fallen Sector.

The outer area of Sewage Treatment Plant No. 368.

A woman with blazing red hair and a large scar across her face stood atop the barrier, wearing a scent-blocking mask as she looked down below.

“Hm…….”

Kara the Red Fixer.

One of the most skilled fixers in New Valhalla City, recognized even by government insignia, she frowned as if troubled.

This was one of the places where massive amounts of wastewater flowing out of New Valhalla City were discharged.

When household sewage or rainwater pooled inside the sewage treatment plant within the barrier, it was purified through chemicals and special devices before being released as clean water again.

That purified water was then used in citizens’ daily lives, or sometimes mixed once more with chemicals to become “Anti-rain.”

While she stared down at the space below the barrier, the Guard Captain stationed there asked her:

“What are you looking at?”

“That village over there.”

Inside the barrier in Sector E stood the sewage treatment plant.

Across the defensive wall, on the opposite side, a village of the Fallen had formed. Houses made of planks and garbage clustered tightly around the wastewater pipes.

At the sight, the Guard Captain let out a bitter laugh.

“Hard to believe they can survive in a place like that. We can’t even stand the stench without masks.”

“Why is there a village there?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? Well, quite a lot of people don’t.”

Then the Guard Captain explained.

“From those pipes, water mixed with chemicals from the treatment plant flows out. Originally, for the sake of the environment, it should be properly processed, but do you think people in this city care? They secretly connect pipes beyond the wall and dump it outside.”

“And so?”

“Well, because water flows there, it stays quite warm even in winter. And that water contains chemicals used in Anti-rain. Those people dilute it a bit and sprinkle it around their homes or their village to ward off Mystics.”

That was why the stronger among the Fallen occupied the spots closest to the wall and the pipes.

“Hm.”

But to Kara, that didn’t matter in the least. What she wanted to confirm was not the ecology of the Fallen village beyond the wall, but a single individual living there.

“Do you know anyone there?”

“Me? No, not at all.”

“I heard there’s some famous eccentric.”

“Eccentric…… ah, yes, I’ve heard soldiers gossip. They said there’s some strange fellow wandering around. Supposedly, he could talk with Mystics.”

“That’s the one I was looking for.”

“Oh dear…….”

The Guard Captain looked troubled at her words.

“What’s wrong?”

“He disappeared about three months ago. I was curious too, thinking maybe there really was someone friendly with actual monsters, but when I looked into it, they said he was gone.”

At his words, Kara sighed deeply and muttered:

“Tsk. Again…….”

“Again?”

“It’s nothing. Thanks.”

Kara flicked a wad of cash to the Guard Captain, then leapt straight down beneath the Sector E wall.

The sudden jump startled him so much he tried to grab her, but she landed lightly and began walking away as if nothing had happened.

“C-crazy……! Do you know how high that is……!”

While he stood in awe, Kara, having descended beneath the wall, calmly opened her holographic notebook.

Inside were the names of many people, most of which were already marked with X’s.

She added another X next to the entry labeled: “Bistro (Monster Tamer/Villain).”

“Haa…….”

Truly, things were getting troublesome.

She almost regretted siding with Aaron, because “Motherboard” had twisted the story using the transmigrator’s knowledge.

Originally, countless individuals who should have either aided or opposed the protagonist had ended up dead, missing, or entirely different people.

‘At this rate, even if I somehow survive this crisis, the story won’t progress properly.’

Even if Motherboard had erased the transmigrator’s personality, the perks should still remain. Yet she couldn’t understand why it had gone so far as to wreck the original to a state beyond repair.

‘No, maybe that’s exactly the reason.’

By twisting the story this way, ordinary humans could no longer exploit the knowledge of the original. Meanwhile, Motherboard, with its electronic brain, could run countless simulations and drive the scenario whichever way it pleased.

‘Either way, not good.’

Aaron had trusted her and given her the mission of protecting the “transmigrator,” but under these circumstances, there was little she could do. To be honest, the advantage had already completely shifted to Motherboard.

‘Seems like I chose the wrong side…….’

At the conference hall, she had sided with Aaron on instinct. Since her role in the original was minimal, she figured that acting like a bat, like other transmigrators, would only get her killed.

But looking back now, she felt a twinge of regret. She could have simply taken a neutral stance.

‘Is it still not too late……?’

The more information she gathered, the more unfavorable things seemed. She even wondered if it might be better to distance herself from Aaron.

But she soon shook her head, brushing away the thought.

‘My choice won’t be wrong.’

She was one of the strongest in this world, and that was why she could recognize more clearly than anyone just how terrifying Aaron Stingray’s power truly was.

In modern society, “power” could manifest in many forms: immense wealth, high status, or great political authority.

But all of that only mattered while the system of “society” held together. Power upheld under the promise of law and institutions.

But when that system collapsed, what exerted the greatest influence was ruthless violence. The most primal, primitive power…… violence.

If Aaron Stingray was ever cornered with no options left, how would he respond?

The result was already set.

Motherboard might think it could surpass Aaron Stingray even in raw power, but…… well.

Kara’s judgment was different.

In the very last of the last of the last moments.

He would reduce everything to ashes.

Because Aaron Stingray had the power to do just that.

Stingray and Militech.

And Omega Investment.

The battle that erupted as these three whales clashed reverberated far beyond the Academy—it sent no small shockwave through the countless shrimps living across New Valhalla City.

The students, already unsettled by the Ashita-kyo terrorist attack, the student protests, and the aftermath of summer vacation, could not shake their unease.

News broke out almost daily, and with the media loudly broadcasting every incident, the students could hardly focus on classes or training.

-Did you see yesterday’s news? The opposition was grilling the Chairman, asking why the prosecution wasn’t investigating him.

-Those bastards must’ve taken Militech money.

-Think it’ll affect us too?

-Damn, breaking news just popped up again.

Of course, professors and instructors, in line with their duty, didn’t let such behavior slide and sternly rebuked them. But for the corporate scholarship students, it was like preaching to cows.

After all, no matter what they were told, the right to punish them lay with their sponsor corporations.

Naturally, they didn’t like getting low evaluations in class either, but what mattered more to them was what would happen to their sponsors.

To make matters worse, rumors spread that the big event that had stirred up so much controversy in the first semester—the [Showcase]—would be held again, and the students couldn’t control their emotions.

As a result.

“I’m dying here…….”

Irie felt like death.

Student Council President’s office.

One of the spare offices inside Trinity Academy had been decorated and arranged for the Student Council. Sitting in the President’s seat at the front, Irie buried her head against the desk while processing paperwork.

“P-please, stop tormenting me…….”

Naturally, the authority of the Student Council President came from the students. When the students united and held firm grounds, the Council could exert real power and proudly demand new rights from the Academy.

But conversely, if the students caused problems or failed to unite, they lost legitimacy and weakened.

Once the Board of Directors started saying, “Hey! We gave you all this authority, and you can’t even manage properly!?” then all she could do was lower her head.

With rumors spreading everywhere that students weren’t focusing on classes and only causing trouble due to the current unrest, all Irie could do during meetings was bow to the adults and say, “Yes, I’m sorry.”

“Festival…… we were supposed to have a festival……!”

Because of this, the sports day and festival that she had ambitiously planned with the other Student Council executives were effectively canceled.

“Stop causing trouble already, you idiots!”

“Is that really something you should be saying, Irie?”

Vice President Raina, hearing her muttering, smirked and teased her. Irie, still with her face buried on the desk, glared at her sideways.

“What, why, what.”

“Well? It just feels like the saying ‘the frog forgets it was once a tadpole’ fits perfectly.”

“When did I ever cause trouble! If anything, I was the one who got bullied!”

“Before all that. I heard you had a record of kicking Chairman Aaron on the very first day.”

“Ugh!? Y-you, where did you hear that!”

Irie’s face turned bright red.

“Well, I only heard it as a rumor. But seeing your reaction, I guess it’s true.”

“You little…….”

“Anyway, should I get you some coffee? You’ll need to finish all that paperwork by today if you want to join the [Showcase] soon.”

At that, Irie looked bitterly at the holographic document windows filling her vision.

Then she let out a sigh.

“Haa, I guess you’re right……. But coffee?”

“Yes, coffee.”

“Synthetic?”

“No. Natural.”

“That’s expensive. Where’d you get it?”

“Uncle Lexus gave it to me.”

“That man, seriously…….”

That was definitely Chairman Aaron’s stash.

He must have swiped it from somewhere, maybe the break room, and hidden it away. Lately, with the start of the second semester and too much free time, he often loitered around the Stingray dormitory or office like some idle nobleman.

“So, are you going to drink it or not?”

“……I’ll drink.”

The synthetic coffee sold on the market had a weird musty smell, so she avoided it. Natural coffee didn’t have that, and she liked it. Even if she didn’t like bitterness much, once she mixed sugar and cream, it was truly delicious.

“By the way, Irie.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“About the [Showcase], are you really sure about this?”

“Yes.”

Irie nodded confidently.

“I trained plenty over the vacation, and I’ve adapted to the new module. And this time, I’m not fighting alone, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but……”

Despite her answer, Raina’s expression didn’t relax. Irie encouraged her once more.

“Don’t worry. We’ve also got the new module Miyu made for us, right? We’ll win easily.”

According to the judgment of their sponsor, Chairman Aaron, and their tutor, Lexus Bane, the entire special class would participate in this Showcase requested by Militech.

Irie, Raina, and Silence would compete in a 3 vs 3 team battle.

Of course, since this was Militech’s second duel, they were coming fully prepared, but Irie was confident of victory again. She had also heard that, just like last time, “Donovan von Delay” would be participating.

“Last time, he was an easy opponent.”

“Hmm…… true. And Uncle Lexus also said we’d win this one easily.”

“Right. Still, you never know, so we shouldn’t slack off on training. Let’s finish this paperwork first, then head to the training grounds.”

“Of course!”

That conversation with Raina had taken place a few days earlier.

Finally, the day of the [Showcase] arrived.

Just like at the start of the first semester, Irie, Raina, and Silence entered the training ground wearing Stingray’s exclusive uniforms.

Opposite them, Donovan and two other Militech scholarship students stood proudly to face them.

But then……

[Wait. There’s something off about them.]

[What do you mean?]

[I don’t know. Something…… something’s there.]

The moment they locked eyes with their opponents, an abnormal sense of unease surged within her. The same instinct that had saved her life countless times now blared like a siren.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep