Chaos Mate ~Revenge In This Chaotic Academy~

Chapter 48: Daughter of a Hero

Emi Side

It feels like I’m in a zombie game.

Brainwashed classmates chase me no matter where I flee, and I keep shocking them with the railgun to knock them out, only for them to regain consciousness and get back up.

I slip into the library, climb to the second floor, and gain a moment to breathe. Leaning against the glass railing, I steady my ragged breaths.

Checking the smartphone attached to the railgun, the battery’s at 27%. I’ve overused it.

Ability Tools run on the smartphone’s battery, so if it dies, the weapon’s useless.

“…Is he okay? Normally, he’d be there by now… I was in such a rush, I didn’t even tell him how to rendezvous… This is bad…”

Sighing softly, I try to think of a way to break through.

There are two ways to disable an Ability Tool.

One is to destroy the smartphone attached to it. Sounds simple, but it’s incredibly hard to pull off.

The other is more mundane but reliable: keep using it until the battery hits zero.

That’s possible by forcing the tool to run continuously, but it puts me at a disadvantage.

My battery’s nearing a quarter, but I don’t know how much Sumeragi has left.

Normally, control-type Ability Tools like hers consume battery faster with more targets and greater distance.

But I don’t expect things to go that smoothly.

Worst case, I might have to take her down with me, at least destroying her Ability Tool.

While thinking, my headphones pick up someone’s inner voice nearby.

“Head to the courtyard.”

“…Huh?”

“Mogami Emi, if you want to rendezvous with Tsubaki Madoka, go to the courtyard. I’ve told him the same. Hurry, the enemy’s close. The Ice Queen has returned. This changes the game.”

That voice… I recognize it.

But why is it speaking to me directly?

And the Ice Queen’s return… Does that mean someone knows the real truth about me and Madoka?

I shake my head to clear it and leave the library while it’s still empty.

I’m not trusting the voice, but acting is better than doing nothing, so I head to the courtyard.

Using walls, vending machines, and tree shadows, I reach the courtyard surrounded by the school building. It’s empty.

Then, a clapping sound—pan, pan, pan—echoes, and someone steps out from the building’s shadow.

“Tag’s over, huh, Mogami-san? You tried hard alone, but did you really think you could take me down by yourself?”

Sumeragi Reine. I never expected her to come to me.

She holds a stun gun in her left hand, a smartphone attached to its side. But it’s not at an angle I can shoot with the railgun.

“You? I can handle alone. Manipulating people might come from your weapon, but you’ve got to control yourself. I don’t think you can.”

“That fake emotionless, calm tone pisses me off. I can’t tell what you’re thinking at all.”

“That’s obvious. No one can know what another’s thinking. Everyone’s thoughts are unique. Maybe go back to elementary school and retake ethics?”

I tilt my face up, looking down at her, and Reine snaps her fingers. Brainwashed classmates emerge from behind walls and bushes.

I already know the railgun only buys time. I’ll save the battery for a critical moment.

I holster the railgun at my waist, clench my right fist, and slap it into my left palm.

I wanted to avoid this, but from here, it’s hand-to-hand combat.

“I might have to break an arm or leg per person… but oh well.”

Two guys—don’t know their names—charge like crazed apes. I raise my right leg high and kick one in the face without hesitation.

Then I kick a girl’s back, leap high, and flying-kick another guy’s stomach, crashing him into the zombie crowd to disrupt their balance.

Reine’s expression shows confusion at my moves.

“Just so you know, I don’t show mercy to enemies. I wasn’t taught to fight kindly.”

“You call them classmates and still act so heartless!?”

“I’d never let a girl who manipulates and attacks with classmates say that. I’ve never connected with anyone here and never planned to. The only one I’d be kind to is Madoka.”

“Hey, Madoka-kun’s mine!!”

“That thinking’s already wrong!! Madoka’s not a thing, not your puppet!!”

My emotions flare, and four girls approach from all directions. I stop them instantly with hand-chops to their necks.

Reine, seeing my left eye, widens her eyes and clicks her tongue.

“That piercing, deep blue eye… No way, you inherited ‘Despair’!?”

“It’s ‘Hope’ to us. Just like your ‘Hope’ is a threat to us.”

“…Looks like I need to capture you too. Madoka-kun’s the priority, but you’re coming alive.”

“I’m not letting anyone have Madoka. Never.”

Reine points at me. The crowd suddenly rushes me, signaling a full attack.

“I’ll take him!!”

“I won’t let you!!”

Bracing to kick through the thinner side, the gap between me and the zombies narrows, forming a donut shape from above. A shadow overlaps mine from above.

Floating in midair, likely jumping from the second floor, a man with a black eyepatch over his right eye spins once and lands in front of me.

Unconsciously, I flash a relieved smile.

Even with enemies closing in, he sees my face, returns a faint smile, and swings a white sword, sweeping the zombies back.

Their movements stop abruptly.

“Sorry, Mogami. Got held up.”

“It’s fine. I could’ve handled it alone, you know.”

“Don’t act tough, it’s overwhelming odds. Only I can deal with this.”

“Shut up, don’t get cocky. So cheeky for a Madoka.”

“Geez, you’re something else…”

Madoka points his white sword at the queen-like girl beyond the zombie crowd.

“From here, I’m cold and merciless. Get ready.”

With that, the one-eyed avenger glares at Reine.