You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!!

“He Overturned Everything”

…

“…”

“He rescued the unit, including those of rank, from a dire situation. You grasp the significance of this, correct?”

“…Yes, I fully comprehend.”

The principal let out a voice in response to the supervisor’s repeated words.

“Then, would you not tell me?”

“Understood. Then…what would you like to ask about first?”

“…Hmm?…Ah~”

The supervisor shook his head once at the principal’s question, then quickly grasped its meaning.

“Right, what should I ask about first…”

“It’s decided, Supervisor. You should question why the Japan branch concealed his existence from the headquarters and us.”

The one who raised his voice to the supervisor was a branch chief sitting at part of the round table.

“Such an existence was hidden from us and the headquarters. We should uncover this and administer strict punishment, I believe.”

“Hmm, Japan branch, do you have anything to say to this opinion?”

“Then, if I may be so bold to speak,”

The principal addressed the branch chief, who had offered his opinion.

“Forgive the unfortunate phrasing, but ‘conspiracy’ wasn’t our intention. We deemed the concealment necessary and proceeded as such.”

He stated boldly with a calm voice.

And he recalled his conversation with Teacher Amakusa a few weeks ago.

—Then it’s decided. For “that” mission, conceal all information about Hiroki-kun. The only information to be disclosed is that he is an excellent combatant.

—Understood.

And also with Shiori Himeji…

—You concealed information about Hiroki.

—Yes, there’s a problem as it is now. That’s why this operation will affect his future.

This communication was due to an absolute fact that must not be known.

It was about “a certain fact” regarding Ogino Hiroki.

In a way, it was a precaution to produce the desired outcome.

This “concealment” might be called a “scheme” by those present here.

But, it was not so for the Japan branch and Ogino Hiroki.

In other words, a “half-truth.”

In this situation, the principal had equipped a serious poker face, developed through his tenure as the overall person responsible for the Japan branch.

And inwardly, he was praying,

(Please, don’t let it be discovered!)

Behind the round table, his legs trembled like a newborn fawn’s.

His spirit and lower half were dire in proportion to his serious face.

“Such blatant lies!”

But the branch chiefs present were not so lenient as to be silenced by those words.

“He just wanted to monopolize his existence within the Japan branch! That goes for Shiromeguri Hazuki as well!”

“Yes, and there’s too much concentration of combat power in the Japan branch. Isn’t that a problem?”

“Japan has moved from rank nine to having combat evaluations comparable to those of other countries ranked above four. Why is it only Japan?”

The topic drifted away from Hiroki, and the conversation shifted to the frustrations the various branches had with the Japan branch.

The Japan branch was not viewed favorably by other branches around the world.

Even during the briefing meeting before the joint operation, Teacher Amakusa was reprimanded by leaders of other branches as soon as they entered.

The reason, as one branch chief said, was due to the imbalance of combat power.

The rankers of the Japan branch, especially those from ninth to first in ability evaluation, are virtually indistinguishable from those of other branches ranked fourth or higher.

This has been perceived as monopolization.

However, the principal’s hand did not create an imbalance in combat power.

“Refrain from lamenting the imbalance. You’re all well aware of its reasons, aren’t you?”

…

With a single word from the supervisor, the room fell silent.

Everyone present understood what that meant.

“Even with the imbalance, what are you trying to say?”

“Uh, no, nothing…”

“…I get it… it’s about the distribution of combat power, but…”

Having lost the vigor in their words, the branch chiefs listened as the supervisor spoke.

“Combatants originating from each country fall under the jurisdiction of their respective branch.”

A rule set by the combat academy was laid out.

“As long as this rule exists, transferring without reason is prohibited, even if a new powerhouse is identified.”

Everyone understood who that powerhouse was without saying.

“However, if the combat power is concentrated only in the Japan branch, Shiromeguri Hazuki is…”

“What’s the purpose of the joint operation?”

The words spoken by the supervisor gradually began to cast a shadow.

“Even with the imbalance, there shouldn’t be a problem with the combat power of each branch. For large-scale operations, we’ll conduct them jointly like this time… I understand your thoughts.”

The supervisor anticipated the thoughts of the branch chiefs.

“Seeking research subjects, aren’t we?”

Some trembled at those words.

The value of combat power lies not just in dangerous matters like a battle but most significantly in research.

Combat power is an unknown force yet to be fully deciphered, and researching it could lead to the development of new technologies.

There were cases where replication of certain abilities was successful.

DNA samples of combatants and much experimental data are needed to achieve this.

Thus, each branch wanted to manage superior combat power.

“Apart from Hazuki-chan’s unique situation, transferring for such motives is strictly forbidden.”

“Yet, how shall we proceed with Student Ogino Hiroki? His exceptional nature is known to you as well, Supervisor?”

“…Well, yes, that’s true.”

Responding to a voice, the supervisor looked at the principal, who maintained his serious poker face.

“For now, let’s hear the reason for not reporting. You weren’t ‘conspiring,’ were you?”

“Yes, understood.”

The principal reminisces about the time and effort he had accumulated for this moment.

The weeks of theatrical practice he had undergone in anticipation of this moment.

“The reason for our lack of reporting was the limited time available for compiling documents on Student Ogino Hiroki, aimed at enhancing the success rate of this joint operation.”

“Short on creation time?…”

The supervisor voiced his doubt, prompting the principal to ensure his voice did not tremble. What he was about to say would set everything in motion. Thus, the principal hid any vulnerability deep within himself.

“It was only a month ago that we identified Hiroki as a combatant; until that point, he had been merely an ordinary individual.”

This statement spread a wave of unrest throughout the room, naturally due to the dangers associated with his not being discovered earlier.

This was a recreation of the day the Japan branch’s teachers first confirmed his existence.

“It wasn’t a lie, then?”

A branch chief spoke, referencing the reason given in the report by the teacher who led the operation.

—He became our student after that conference—

This was part of the conversation Teacher Amakusa had at the airport.

Though the words were unbelievable and judged lies, no one here would lie in response to the supervisor’s direct questioning.

Therefore, their words held truth.

“The examination committee didn’t make a mistake, then?”

The supervisor seemed to see through to something deeper as the room buzzed with unease.

“Yes, I heard that a branch somewhere had assessed Hiroki’s abilities…”

“!?”

A branch chief was startled. Indeed, when Hiroki first encountered various branches, one combatant assessed his abilities. The principal was digging up that past.

“It seems they could not detect any abilities from Hiroki at that time.”

“Right… it was the rank six ‘Ability Assessment,’ wasn’t it?”

The supervisor recalled the documents related to this operation, organizing them and revealing a significant point.

“Ah, he managed to conceal his abilities, then. Although the methods are unknown, he’s been deceiving adults from a young age.”

Everyone present grasped the significance of this implication.

“To deceive someone of rank six… you can’t blame the examination committee.”

Though there had been cases where a discovery was missed due to a mistake, there had never been a case where the individuals themselves had evaded detection.

Rank six provided evidence that it wasn’t a departmental mistake but the individual’s capabilities that had allowed him to evade detection.

“If the responsibility lies not with a mistake but with a child’s abilities, determining where the blame lies is difficult.”

“Even so, with the limited time, could you not have pieced together at least a fragmented report?”

After putting aside the pressing issue, the supervisor resumed questioning, to which the principal responded calmly.

“I believe it was necessary to ensure the operation’s success.”

“For the sake of success, then… let’s hear more about it.”

“Understood.”

The principal cycled through his memories, vividly recalling the simulations of question and answer he had prepared, and began to weave his words from his stoic facade.

“First, I would like to ask the branch chiefs, having reviewed the student reports and recorded footage, what abilities do you imagine Student Hiroki possesses?”

…

“It seems you might not be able to answer. Shall I answer instead?”

“Please do, Supervisor.”

Leaving behind the branch chiefs who were at a loss for words, the supervisor proposed to answer the question.

“Possibly multiple abilities, or something akin to a Multi-type capability.”

This response once again stirred unrest among those present.