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

The response from the supervisor momentarily cast a wave of unrest, but it was swiftly quelled.

Everyone’s attention was focused on the Principal’s forthcoming response.

“Did you understand?”

“Yes, I understood what you were thinking.”

“Head Supervisor, this act of concealment by the Japan branch…”

“Quietly.”

Someone attempted to speak, but the supervisor silenced them with a single word.

“I thought it was foolish since there was no precedent, but never imagined…”

“I was reluctant to accept it, however…”

“From detecting abilities to concealing them, sneaking into the WDC research facility via an unknown path, navigating through a facility swarming with soldiers, identifying and manipulating a targeted soldier under suspicion. The enemy’s reaction suggests they were unaware of his infiltration. Ultimately, he guided his comrades to the brain storage chamber…”

The facts, including Ogino Hiroki’s accomplishments, as recounted by the supervisor, were beyond the capabilities of a mere combatant, leading to the realization of an unprecedented possibility.

“I’m convinced. The reason you omitted the report… no, an excuse, perhaps?”

The supervisor, hand on head, spoke slowly in front of those unconvinced.

“In light of the infiltration operation at the WDC research facility, reporting the discovery of a multi-ability user might have led to unnecessary confusion.”

“Yes, exactly. However…”

“Ah, let me continue.”

The supervisor went on to fill in the missing explanation.

“The operation was moved up in response to WDC’s movements. However, only the Japanese branch could prepare a single-ranking member. Hence, he was…”

“Just because sending a precious multi-ability user who hasn’t even been confirmed safe yet…”

“Quiet. I’m speaking, so please keep your mouth shut.”

“…”

Silencing the interjector, the supervisor continued.

“Following the dispatch of a capable person, you sent him.”

“Yes, we couldn’t prepare other ranking members in time due to the early start date.”

Other branches dispatched mainly two ranking members and several excellent non-ranking combatants.

The operation required at least two ranking members to participate.

“Considering sending a few others, but it wouldn’t be acceptable if we couldn’t meet the condition of having two ranking members.”

This was reflected in the strategy meeting among the branch chiefs.

“I introduced him to this operation, trusting in his capabilities.”

“Capabilities, you say!? How could a mere civilian-turned-student have the requisite endurance to execute such an operation? A judgment made purely on the fact that he possesses multiple abilities!”

Someone finally exploded in anger.

“He’s a multi-ability user! You sent a precious being without precedent! Do you understand the meaning of that!”

The Principal shifted his gaze from the supervisor and gave a faint smile to the branch chiefs sitting around.

“Did his capabilities not meet your expectations?”

“You! Supervisor! He should be punished!”

“The fact that you sent someone without combat knowledge just because he’s a multi-ability user! Were you intending to kill a precious being!”

The supervisor sighed as the endless barrage of rebukes continued, and the Principal slowly inhaled.

“I was told to prepare two ranking members. So, I thought I had dispatched someone with equivalent capabilities.”

“Equivalent! You placed him in the same category as ranking members based solely on the fact he’s a multi-ability user!”

“It all comes down to the outcome! It’s no different from a gamble!”

“If the result had been a failure, how were you planning to take responsibility?”

Amid the relentless chain of rebukes, the Principal maintained his faint smile. Then, a shadow floating in the air descended before the Principal.

“Enough of the rebukes. Let’s be silent for a moment.”

What!?

The sharply cold voice instilled fear in everyone present, naturally leading to intense anticipation.

“Is it finally happening!? Has it come to this!?”

On the verge of mental breakdown, the Principal found himself in a state barely holding together—emotionally akin to a middle-aged man with tear-filled eyes and slightly dampened undergarments.

Despite being the architect of his own predicament—

“Thank you.”

—he had no choice but to continue.

—For his sake.

“Ah, just so you know, I’m not particularly on your side.”

The supervisor returned a cold reply to the Principal, who strained to express his gratitude.

“I do find myself in agreement with their sentiments to some extent. So, I’m inclined to listen.”

The supervisor directed his questioning at the Principal, adopting an interrogatory tone that lacked the initial casualness.

“If the reason is unacceptable, your position will be immediately revoked.”

A single slip of the tongue could end everything. Under these circumstances, the Principal changed his expression to one of seriousness, suiting his position.

—And then,

“Yes, there is a reason. And evidence.”

A single wrong word could end everything.

The Principal pulled out a small device from his pocket.

“I told you that he was dispatched to increase the success rate of the operation.”

“Yes, you mentioned that. But the problem was dispatching someone with so little experience, a civilian up until a month ago.”

“Yes. However, that is—”

He swiped his finger across the device, and all the monitors in the room changed.

“If his abilities exceed those of the tenth rank, it should not be a concern.”

What!?

The air trembled. Was it because of the images displayed on the monitors or the statement?

“This is…”

“Could it be…”

As some began to feel nauseous, the Principal maintained a calm and collected demeanor.

“Yes, the physical damage is severe, but you can still recognize him, right?”

That statement shifted everyone’s suspicions to conviction.

What was displayed was a “flesh mass stained with death.”

Contrary to the torso wrapped in a bulletproof vest, the rest of the body was gruesomely mangled. It was difficult to tell if the limbs were still attached, making it hard to identify it as human at first glance.

But the fact remained. Everyone present recognized the remnants of the face on that damaged head.

Yes. The resemblance matched a person from the operation’s recorded footage.

The other hero led the combatants through chaos and turned around a critical situation.

“It appears there is no mistake—this is Himeji Shiori, ranked tenth at the Japan branch.”

“Yes.”

With the supervisor’s words, the Principal affirmed and presented the fact to everyone.

Finally, the Principal unveiled the “certain truth” he had been hiding.